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
