Drought and Famine: Crash Course World History #208

Summary

In this *Crash Course World History* episode, John Green explores the causes of famine, emphasizing that they are often man-made disasters rather than purely natural events. He critiques both government policies and market forces, using historical examples like the famines in colonial India and underlining the role of El Niño in exacerbating food shortages. Green concludes on a hopeful note, highlighting the progress in reducing global hunger due to advances in agricultural technology, while stressing that famine is not an inevitability and can be prevented with better resource distribution and policies.

Takeaways

• 😀 Famines are often man-made disasters, not just natural occurrences like droughts.
• 😀 People starve not because there isn't enough food, but because they can't access it due to various socio-political factors.
• 😀 Governments can contribute to famines through poor policies, such as neglecting to provide relief or imposing harmful economic strategies.
• 😀 Examples like Stalin’s collectivization and Mao's Great Leap Forward demonstrate how ideologically-driven policies can lead to mass starvation.
• 😀 Market forces can also cause famines by making food unaffordable, even when it's available in nearby regions.
• 😀 Droughts and weather-related events, such as El Niño, exacerbate famines, particularly in regions like Asia, Africa, and South America.
• 😀 India's famines during British colonial rule were worsened by British economic and tax policies that prioritized cotton over food crops.
• 😀 British colonial tax policies pushed Indian farmers into debt, making them more reliant on cash crops and less on food production.
• 😀 The British used railroads in India primarily to export raw materials, not to bring food aid to famine-stricken areas, contributing to higher mortality rates.
• 😀 The notion that famines are a result of natural factors like population growth versus resources is a false narrative used to justify inaction, as seen with Malthusian ideas.
• 😀 Despite historical famines, the world has made progress, with fewer people undernourished today than at any other point in history, demonstrating that famine is not inevitable.

Q & A

What is the main point John Green makes about famine in this Crash Course episode?

John Green argues that famine is not typically caused by a lack of food, but by the inability of people to access available resources. Economic inequality, government policies, and market forces are often the primary drivers of famine.

How does Amartya Sen's view on starvation relate to the causes of famine?

Amartya Sen's view, as quoted in the episode, is that 'starvation is the characteristic of some people not having enough food to eat.' He emphasizes that famine is not due to a lack of food but rather due to people's inability to access it due to factors like economic or political issues.

What role do governments play in causing or alleviating famines?

Governments can either exacerbate famines through poor policies (e.g., forced crop production or insufficient relief efforts) or contribute to famines with deliberate actions like those seen in Stalin's Soviet Union or Mao's China. At other times, governments fail to intervene adequately in the face of natural disasters like droughts.

Can market forces contribute to famine? How?

Yes, market forces can contribute to famine. When food is available but people cannot afford it due to price hikes, hoarding, or economic disparity, famine can occur. This is often made worse by speculative behavior in the market, where food is stockpiled by those who can afford it, leaving others without access.

What is the relationship between droughts and famines, and how does El Niño factor into this?

Droughts can lead to food shortages, and El Niño, which affects weather patterns, can contribute to severe droughts, particularly in regions like Asia, Africa, and northeastern South America. These droughts can disrupt agriculture, exacerbating food insecurity.

Why does John Green focus on famines in colonial India during the late 19th century?

Green focuses on famines in colonial India to show how British colonial policies, such as forcing peasants to grow cash crops like cotton rather than food, and their failure to use railroads effectively, worsened famines. These famines were a result of both bad governance and market forces.

What was the impact of British taxation policies on Indian farmers during the famines?

British taxation policies forced Indian farmers to grow cash crops like cotton instead of food, pushing them into debt. The taxes were paid in cash, which led farmers to become more dependent on the market, leaving them vulnerable to economic instability and famine during droughts.

How did the British use railroads during famines in India, and what was their effect?

While railroads could have been used to transport food to famine-stricken areas, they were mostly used to ship raw materials to Britain. In some cases, areas served by railroads experienced higher death rates because food supplies were not diverted to those in need.

What is the difference between collectivist and free-market policies in relation to famine?

Both collectivist and free-market policies can lead to famine. Collectivist policies, like those under Stalin and Mao, can force people to work for insufficient rations, while free-market capitalism, as seen in colonial India, can lead to famine by prioritizing profit over people's basic needs. Green argues that both ideologies can contribute to famine if government intervention is inadequate.

What is John Green’s final message about famine and food security?

Green's final message is hopeful: with modern agricultural technologies, there is enough food for everyone, and fewer people are undernourished today than in the past. He urges people to recognize that famine is not a natural disaster but a human-made one, and with better systems, we can ensure food security for all.