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Abstracts
Panel: Social Dimensions of Food Security (Food Insecurity: Military Nexus)
Relationship between food insecurity, social tension and political conflict in Nepal
Bishnu Raj upreti*
Yamuna Ghale**
Food security issue is becoming one of the major socio-political issues in Nepal. the armed conflict had erupted in the most food insecure far western districts of Nepal in 1996. Food insecurity created huge social tension and one of the major sources of armed conflict. Consequently, it became a highly politicized issue. But regrettably, it is widely ignored from the government in terms of addressing food insecurity in practice. Hence, this paper examines the relationship between food insecurity, social tension and political conflict in Nepal. Based on the primary and secondary data, this paper offers the insights on the hard hit food insecurity areas and its effects on social relation and ultimate link with the armed conflict waged by the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoists). Based on the evidences, we argue that hunger and food insecurity pose serious security threat and serve as structural source of armed insurgency, civil unrest and divide the society between haves and have-nots. Consequently, it becomes a spiral of causes and consequences of instability and civil unrest.
 * Dr. Bishnu Raj Upreti is a South Asia Regional Coordinator of NCCR North-South. He is a researcher in conflict transformation, civil military relations, security governance and human security issues. He has worked in various national and international organizations.
 **Ms Yamuna Ghale is a livelihood and food security expert and actively engaged in globalization and WTO and natural resource management related research and advocacy.
Social dimensions of food insecurity in Pakistan
Abid Qaiyum Suleri*
In this paper an attempt has been made to explore the links between individual, national, regional, and global “securities”. It is argued that the above-mentioned four levels of securities are indelibly interconnected. It is in this context that food security and hunger have been perceived as more of a security than a humanitarian threat to South Asia in general and Pakistan in particular.
It is argued that when poverty and food insecurity take on an identity be it religious, ethnic, and/or provincial it inevitably leads to the disintegration of the social fabric. In Pakistan’s case, steady increases in the number of food-insecure individuals have characteristically led to class conflicts (between “haves” and “have-nots”) and violence that ultimately weakens the state. The high prevalence of food insecurity has intensified “extraordinary behavior,” giving rise to suicides, suicide attacks, and the selling of children, and the loss of dignity.
SDPI studies reveal that the chronic food insecure districts of Pakistan are most disturbed by violence and militancy. To address the social dimensions of food insecurity, a “paradigm shift” in public spending that moves away from national defence and toward social development, and that benefits the individual, not just the state, is recommended.
 *Dr. Abid Q. Suleri is the Executive Director of the Sustainable Development Policy Institute, Islamabad. He earned his Ph.D. in Food Security from the Natural Resources Institute (NRI), University of Greenwich, United Kingdom. He has conducted intensive research on globalization and rural livelihoods. His other research interests include food security, regional integration, institutional reforms, disaster management, poverty-environment nexus and sustainable natural resources governance.
Food insecurity, governance, and human development: Five propositions
Adil Najam*
Roshan Malik**
The era of cheap food seems to be over but its long-term impacts are melting developing countries’ governance structures and rapidly increasing the fiscal deficit. The recent rise in global food prices and shortage of necessary edible commodities in various parts of the world have exacerbated food insecurity and augmented poverty. Food riots have been reported in more than twenty countries and social unrest may arise in many others if immediate and effective assistance is not provided. This paper conspicuously identifies five propositions of Food Insecurity, Governance, and Human Development.
Firstly, we are facing a significant global food crisis that is likely to persist, and some of the poorest countries are at the greatest risk. Secondly, it expounds that countries experiencing severe food crisis also suffer from the worst governance indicators and those facing chronic food insecurity are likely to have even worse governance. Thirdly, it shows that countries experiencing extreme problems in their governance structures also tend to face significant food shortages. Fourthly, food-related social unrest is beginning to place new burdens on already weak or borderline governance systems in many countries; persistent food insecurities are likely to make these worse. Finally, a number of the most vulnerable countries in the world are facing a triple threat – very low human development, chronic food insecurity, and major governance issues.
 * Dr. Adil Najam: Director Pardee Center for Long Term Future, Boston University, MA. U.S.A.
Roshan Malik: Summer Fellow (2008), Pardee Center for Long Term Future & Currently a PhD Student –Rural Sociology- Iowa State University, Ames, IA. U.S.A
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