The phenomenon of famine

Annu Rev Nutr. 1987:7:1-21. doi: 10.1146/annurev.nu.07.070187.000245.

Abstract

Famines are sustained, extreme shortages of food among discrete populations sufficient to cause high rates of mortality. Signs and symptoms of prolonged food deprivation include loss of fat and subcutaneous tissue, depression, apathy, and weakness, which progress to immobility and death of the individual, often from superimposed respiratory or other infections. The social consequences of famines are disruption from mass migrations of people in search of food, breakdown of social behavior, abandonment of cooperative effort, loss of personal pride and sense of family ties, and finally a struggle for individual survival. Famines have been common ever since the development of agriculture made human settlements possible. Food shortages due to crop failures caused by natural disasters including poor weather, insect plagues, and plant diseases; crop destruction due to warfare; and enforced starvation as a political tool are by no means the only causative factors. Many of the worst famines have been due to poor distribution of existing food supplies, either because of inequities that result in a lack of purchasing power on the part of the poor or because of political interference with normal distribution or relief movements of food. Europe and Asia, which in the past experienced frequent severe famines, sometimes with deaths in the hundreds of thousands or millions, have now largely eliminated famines through social and technological change. However, in Africa, political and social factors have destroyed the capacity of many populations to survive drought-induced variations in local food supplies and prices. Thus, famines are due to varying combinations of inadequacy of food supplies for whatever reason and the inability of populations to acquire food because of poverty, civil disturbances, or political interference. Despite the role of natural causes, the conclusion is inescapable that modern famines, like most of those in history, are man-made.

PIP: Famines are sustained, extreme shortages of food among discrete populations sufficient to cause high rates of mortality. Crop failures caused by natural disasters including poor weather, insect plagues, and plant diseases; crop destruction due to warfare; and enforced starvation as a political tool are some causative factors of famine. However, modern famines, like most of those throughout history, are manmade. Many of the worst famines have been due to the poor distribution of existing food supplies, either because of inequities which result in a lack of purchasing power among the poor or because of political interference with the normal distribution or relief movements of food. Europe and Asia used to experience frequent severe famines, but have employed social and technological change to largely eliminate them. Political and social factors in Africa, however, have destroyed the capacity of many populations to survive drought-induced variations in local food supplies and prices.

Publication types

  • Historical Article
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Demography
  • Disasters
  • Food Deprivation
  • Food Supply
  • History, 15th Century
  • History, 16th Century
  • History, 17th Century
  • History, 18th Century
  • History, 19th Century
  • History, 20th Century
  • History, Ancient
  • History, Medieval
  • Humans
  • Infections / etiology
  • Politics
  • Protein Deficiency / etiology
  • Sociology
  • Starvation* / etiology
  • Starvation* / history
  • Starvation* / physiopathology
  • Starvation* / prevention & control
  • Warfare