Anthropology of Food - The Social Dynamics of Food Security (Paperback)

This new book provides an incisive account of food production and famine in the world today. Drawing on the work of anthropologists and other sources it offers a wide-ranging account of the methods used to produce and distribute food in a variety of cultural and historical contexts, from India to sub-Saharan Africa.

Anthropology of Food examines in detail the viewpoints of people whose food resources are insecure, exploring their perceptions of the value of land, farm labor organization, of the way markets operate, famine relief campaigns, and the shape and impact of agrarian development policies. It compares these views with the impact of theories adopted by policy-makers, and reflects on the direction of future empirical research and policy-making, stressing that it is the moral responsibility of researchers to be aware of the social dynamics of food security.