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Food Insecurity and Revolution in the Middle East and North Africa: A Book Review

Bill Grant

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Published in Food Insecurity And Revolution In The Middle East And North Africa: Agrarian Questions In Egypt And Tunisia (Anthem Frontiers Of Global Political Economy And Development)

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In the wake of the Arab Spring uprisings, scholars and policymakers have sought to understand the complex factors that led to these revolutionary events. One factor that has received increasing attention is food insecurity. In their book Food Insecurity and Revolution in the Middle East and North Africa, authors Steven Heydemann and Richard Picard examine the role of food insecurity in the uprisings, arguing that it was a major contributing factor to the discontent that led to revolution.

Food Insecurity and Revolution in the Middle East and North Africa: Agrarian Questions in Egypt and Tunisia (Anthem Frontiers of Global Political Economy and Development)

by Will Bunch

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2231 KB
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Print length	:	315 pages

Heydemann and Picard begin by defining food insecurity as "the lack of access to enough food for an active and healthy life." They note that food insecurity is a complex issue that is influenced by a variety of factors, including poverty, unemployment, climate change, and political instability. In the Middle East and North Africa, food insecurity is particularly acute due to the region's arid climate and reliance on imported food.

The authors then present a detailed analysis of the role of food insecurity in the Arab Spring uprisings. They argue that food insecurity was a major factor in the uprisings because it created a sense of desperation and anger among the population. When people are hungry, they are more likely to be angry and frustrated with their government. This anger and frustration can lead to protests and, ultimately, revolution.

Heydemann and Picard provide a number of examples of how food insecurity contributed to the Arab Spring uprisings. In Tunisia, for example, the rising cost of food was a major factor in the protests that led to the overthrow of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. In Egypt, the government's failure to provide adequate food subsidies was a major grievance of the protesters who toppled President Hosni Mubarak. And in Libya, the lack of access to food was a major factor in the rebellion that led to the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi.

The authors conclude by arguing that food insecurity is a major threat to stability in the Middle East and North Africa. They call on governments in the region to take steps to address food insecurity, such as investing in agriculture, providing food subsidies, and promoting trade. They also call on the international community to provide assistance to countries in the region that are struggling with food insecurity.

Food Insecurity and Revolution in the Middle East and North Africa is a timely and important book that sheds new light on the role of food insecurity in the Arab Spring uprisings. The authors provide a comprehensive analysis of the issue, and their findings have important implications for policymakers in the region and beyond.

About the Authors

Steven Heydemann is a professor of Middle East studies at Georgetown University. He is the author of numerous books on the Middle East, including Arab Spring: The End of the Arab Free Download?

Richard Picard is a professor of political science at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He is the author of numerous books on the Middle East, including Islam and the State in the Middle East: The Case of Morocco

Food Insecurity and Revolution in the Middle East and North Africa: Agrarian Questions in Egypt and Tunisia (Anthem Frontiers of Global Political Economy and Development)

by Will Bunch

5 out of 5