HIST1923: Politics of Hunger: Food, Aid, and Globalization after WWII

Food is a basic part of our everyday life, but it is difficult to see macro-level political economy behind food and hunger. This seminar gives a basic understanding of how “hunger” came to be understood and dealt with globally after WWII, how Cold-War geopolitics affected food shortage and surplus, how the global food system has gotten us where we are, and what new options are being pursued now. In all these stages, the US has played a central role in shaping the politics of food and hunger. The first part of the course exposes you to important concepts and issues related to politics around world hunger, American food aid, and multi-national agribusiness; students learn how to read texts closely and how to connect American food aid to global politics. The second part of the course helps you acquire research and communication skills; students learn how to conduct independent research and how to use a digital humanities tool called StoryMap. The course is composed of lectures, discussions, documentary film viewing, and research/StoryMap creation.

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