Famine crimes : politics & the disaster relief industry in Africa

Title
  1. Famine crimes : politics & the disaster relief industry in Africa / Alex De Waal.
Published by
  1. Bloomington, Ind. : Indiana University Press, 1997.
Author
  1. De Waal, Alex

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StatusFormatTextAccessUse in libraryCall numberHV696.F6 D4 1997Item locationOff-site
StatusFormatTextAccessUse in libraryCall numberHV696.F6 D4 1997Item locationOff-site

Details

Description
  1. xviii, 238 p. : ill.; 23 cm.
Summary
  1. Famine is preventable. The persistence of famine reflects political failings by African governments, western donors and international relief agencies. Can Africa avoid famine? When freedom from famine is a basic right or a political imperative, famine is prevented. Case studies from Ethiopia to Botswana demonstrate African successes - but they are often not acknowledged or repeated.
  2. Who is responsible for the failures? African generals and politicians are the prime culprits for creating famines in Sudan, Somalia and Zaire, but western donors abet their authoritarianism, partly through imposing structural adjustment programmes.
  3. What is the role of International relief agencies? Despite prodigious expenditure and high public profile, relief agencies often do more harm than good. From Biafra to Rwanda, relief has helped to fuel war and undermine democratic accountability. As the influence and resources of UN agencies and NGOs have grown, the chances for effective local solutions have diminished.
  4. What is the way forward? Humanitarian intervention and other high-profile relief operations have failed. Progress lies in bringing the fight against famine into democratic politics, and calling to account those guilty of creating famine.
Series statement
  1. African issues
Uniform title
  1. African issues.
Subject
  1. Starvation
  2. Africa
  3. Starvation > Moral and ethical aspects > Africa
  4. Africa > Social policy
  5. Food relief > Government policy > Africa
  6. Relief Work
  7. Africa > Politics and government
  8. Ethics
  9. Morals
  10. Humanitarian assistance > Government policy > Africa
Contents
  1. 1. Rights & Entitlements: The Conquest of Famine in South Asia -- 2. Africa 1900-85: A Fragile Obligation to Famine Relief -- 3. Retreat from Accountability I: Neo-Liberalism & Adjustment -- 4. Retreat from Accountability II: The Humanitarian International -- 5. Sudan 1972-93: Privatizing Famine -- 6. Northern Ethiopia: Revolution, War-Famine & Two Models of Relief -- 7. The End of the Cold War: A New Humanitarian Dispensation -- 8. Somalia 1991-92: Famine & Relief after the Demise of the State -- 9. Humanitarian Impunity: Somalia 1993 & Rwanda 1994 -- 10. Eastern Zaire 1996: The Fundraisers' Catastrophe -- 11. Political Contracts & Humanitarian Dilemmas.
Owning institution
  1. Columbia University Libraries
Bibliography (note)
  1. Includes bibliographical references and index.