Indian Journal of Economics and Development

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Mapping out the Historical Role of Food in Conflict Resolution:An African Perspective 1994-2000


Affiliations
1 Department of Philosophy and Religion, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria
2 Department of History and International Relations, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria
 

Objective: This paper takes a historical examination of the role of food in conflict resolution, using the Nsobo/Ikwo communal dispute from 1994-2004.

Methods: Mankind has used various methods both mechanized and un-mechanized methods in getting food for survival. Various methods of getting food and adverse effects of conflict on food abundance for man are discussed here.

Findings: In African localities, food induced conflicts have increased astronomically than conflicts caused by other factors. Ironically, some of these conflicts were resolved using food as the only means of negotiation. Conflict caused by the scarcity of food has the likelihood of degenerating into violent conflict with high proportion of internally displaced persons, refugeeism, and instability on political system, government programs and policies.

Application: This work suggest that food or food related factors have caused several wars fought within the African horns due to tribal politics, ethnic cleansing, bad leadership, weak political system drought, famine and poor agricultural harvests. Basically, these threats can lead to war, malnutrition and refugeeism that spurred the international community to quickly give a helping hand and therefore introduced World Emergence Food Programme in order to ameliorate these food related crises.


Keywords

Food, Conflict, Africa, War and Man.
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  • Mapping out the Historical Role of Food in Conflict Resolution:An African Perspective 1994-2000

Abstract Views: 296  |  PDF Views: 151

Authors

Isidore U. Nwanaju
Department of Philosophy and Religion, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria
Amiara Solomon Amiara
Department of History and International Relations, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria
Nwokike Kenneth Igbo
Department of History and International Relations, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria
Onu Amarachi Favour
Department of History and International Relations, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria

Abstract


Objective: This paper takes a historical examination of the role of food in conflict resolution, using the Nsobo/Ikwo communal dispute from 1994-2004.

Methods: Mankind has used various methods both mechanized and un-mechanized methods in getting food for survival. Various methods of getting food and adverse effects of conflict on food abundance for man are discussed here.

Findings: In African localities, food induced conflicts have increased astronomically than conflicts caused by other factors. Ironically, some of these conflicts were resolved using food as the only means of negotiation. Conflict caused by the scarcity of food has the likelihood of degenerating into violent conflict with high proportion of internally displaced persons, refugeeism, and instability on political system, government programs and policies.

Application: This work suggest that food or food related factors have caused several wars fought within the African horns due to tribal politics, ethnic cleansing, bad leadership, weak political system drought, famine and poor agricultural harvests. Basically, these threats can lead to war, malnutrition and refugeeism that spurred the international community to quickly give a helping hand and therefore introduced World Emergence Food Programme in order to ameliorate these food related crises.


Keywords


Food, Conflict, Africa, War and Man.

References