Hi Everyone,
Apologies for the shameless self-promotion. Just letting GEP-ed list readers
know about the release of my new book, Food (Polity Press -Resources Series,
2012).
Link here where exam copies can be ordered:
http://www.polity.co.uk/book.asp?ref=9780745649351
Best, Jennifer
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Description
Food is one of the most basic resources that humans need for daily survival.
Forty percent of the world's population gains a livelihood from agriculture and
we all consume food. Yet control over this fundamental resource is concentrated
in relatively few hands. The 2008 food price crisis illustrated both the
volatility and vulnerability built into the current global food system; at the
height of the crisis, the number of hungry people on the planet climbed to over
1 billion. At the same time, there are serious ecological consequences that
stem from an increasingly industrial model of agriculture that has spread
worldwide.
This book aims to contribute to a fuller understanding of the forces that
influence and shape the current global food system. Author Jennifer Clapp
explores how corporate control, inequitable international agricultural trade
rules, and the financialization of farm commodities have each had a fundamental
influence on the practices that dominate today's global food system. By
contrast, farmers and consumers, particularly in the developing world, have had
little voice to change the rules of the game. But movements are emerging to
challenge the dominant global system. The extent to which these alternative
movements can displace it, however, remains to be seen
Reviews
In this admirably clear exposition Clapp explains the increasing
'financialisation' of and speculation in food commodities, which contributed,
she suggests, to the price volatility that led to food riots in 2008. Will
sub-prime eaters be blamed for some future market crash? It makes you think
twice about a second breakfast.
The Guardian
A sharp, concise and satisfyingly detailed field-guide to the hegemons of the
world food economy.
Raj Patel, author of The Value of Nothing
Jennifer Clapp explains what happens when food is no longer considered a mere
source of nourishment or cultural element but is transformed into a fungible
commodity. Clapp unpacks and clarifies the mind-numbing complexities of
transnational corporations, international trade, and financial markets. Best of
all, the book provides precisely the information and tools advocates need to
redesign the global food economy to promote fair trade, food justice, and food
sovereignty.
Marion Nestle, New York University
This excellent book explains why food has become a hot political issue on the
global stage. The author clearly knows her subject and offers an insightful,
engaging, and highly accessible introduction to the global food economy.
Robert Falkner, London School of Economics and Political Science
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