The modern world is divided economically into the global north and global south, or simply put, developed and developing nations. Due to the economic inequalities between developed and developing countries, there are vast disparities in the daily lives of the citizens of France for example, and those who call Chad home. While families in France visit a local market or grocery store to purchase food that is enjoyed as a basic commodity, the people of Chad spend most of their day and energy searching for food and water, often coming up short. A question one might ask is, what has caused such disparities between groups of people living in a global age?
Amartya Sen, a leading expert on the causes of famine blames poverty and unemployment, as well as non-democratic governments for the prominent undernourishment in the global south. In his article, Why Half the Planet is Hungry, Sen argues that multi-party elections combined with trade liberalization would end world hunger. However, Vandana Shiva in response to Sen states in The Real Reasons for Hunger that the real cause for hunger in places like Chad is due to the deregulation of imports and exports imposed by the WTO and The World Bank. These global policies take income and land away from farmers in poor countries, as wealthy countries dump their excess produce at prices below production costs, creating a system that peasant farmers cannot possibly compete with. Shiva argues that the best solution is to provide the resources and access to a free market in the hands of the people, resulting in an end to poverty and a sustainable future. In the end, the solution may need to take ideas from both sides. By forming democratic governments and free, multi-party elections, providing resources and access to a free market, the power is put back in the hands of the people which is a key ingredient in the industrialized world.
Photo credit: Peter Menzel Photography. Hungry Planet: Chad, France. http://menzelphoto.photoshelter.com/gallery-collection/Hungry-Planet-What-the-World-Eats-by-Continent/C0000k7JgEHhEq0w