Amartya Sen set the often-cited theory that democracy, in its nature, averts famine. Still, famine struck Malawi in 2002, Niger in 2005, and Madagascar in 2021, which were all regarded as...Show moreAmartya Sen set the often-cited theory that democracy, in its nature, averts famine. Still, famine struck Malawi in 2002, Niger in 2005, and Madagascar in 2021, which were all regarded as democracies at the respective time. Sen’s theory thus fails to explain these as it does not account for factors that incapacitate the famine-averting nature of democracy. Three incapacitating factors were identified as thematic continuities: poverty of the state making relief efforts unaffordable, foreign agency that limits the possible scope of action, and a lack of interest from the press and international donors that undermine the theorized mechanics.Show less
This thesis explores the relationship between Ireland and Great Britain in times of The Great Famine (1845-1850), and discusses the factors that contributed to the deterioration of this relationship.
The thesis argues that in the event of another DPRK famine, an argument under the principles of The Responsibility to Protect (RtoP) for international intervention can be made.
Research master thesis | History: Societies and Institutions (research) (MA)
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This thesis describes and analyzes the famine that occurred in the Netherlands East Indies, c. 1900-1904. The famine affected Java and parts of the Outer Islands. It details (the principles behind)...Show moreThis thesis describes and analyzes the famine that occurred in the Netherlands East Indies, c. 1900-1904. The famine affected Java and parts of the Outer Islands. It details (the principles behind) the relief efforts of the Dutch colonial government. It also analyzes how the colonial government used the famine to accumulate knowledge on the subject, while politically representing and justifying its response. The thesis argues that famines and food shortages are integral to understanding the colonial state and colonial society. Further, it takes a comparative perspective by connecting the famine to famine experiences of other colonial powers in British India and French Indochina.Show less
