Expanse and Relativity of Conflict, Food and Security
The term security has undergone dissection, dismantling, and disintegration to be understood. Different periods have molded its conception as different aspects of world politics focused on different issues. Although the tendency to interpret security as a means of understanding armed conflict, interstate relations, and military still prevail, this understanding is too narrow for conceptualizing world politics. There is also an evolution of issues tackled by security, as the decades pass. For instance, issues during the Cold War era such as nuclear deterrence, arms control, may still be of concern today. However, these concerns are overshadowed by the Covid-19 pandemic or even climate change for that matter, today. The range of issues that fit within the ambit of security differs from each other in broad ways, for there is a broadening of threats and insecurities presented internationally and domestically. Food security is one such issue. The issue of food security is not only broadening the ambit of security but also deepening its understanding as different actors are present in conceptualizing this issue and not just the state as an actor. In this discussion, I aim to briefly discuss the issue of food security in light of the relativity of security. I begin with a general overview of global food security and then go on to discuss the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, with a focus on the relativity of security and some questions pertaining to it, followed by a few takeaways from the discussion.
The secure access to nutritious, safe, and sufficient food through proper economic processes to lead a healthy life signifies food security. However, approximately 720 to 811 million individuals battled hunger in 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic. The aspect to note about food insecurity is that it affects individuals, groups, regions, nations, all of which comprise of the "international". Food insecurity in different regions may fuel organized crimes, terrorism, the civil unrest that may result in social, economic, and political destabilization . It is in many cases a result of terrorism and armed conflict. When we look at the regions and the statistics, it is not difficult to recognize their economic, political, and historical background; a majority of them are low-income nations. About 46 million individuals in Africa, 57 million in Asia, and about 14 million in Latin America and the Caribbean battled food insecurity in 2020. What is important here to note is that this issue has been progressing over the years, gradually affecting more than 30% of the global population. There are different actors involved in different cases of food insecurity, for instance, the role of Multinational Corporations in extracting resources without any consideration of ecological repercussions, the issue of growing poverty and income inequality, armed conflicts and wars, and the most prominent of all; climate change. However, due to constraints, I will be focusing on the aspect of food insecurity in conflict-ridden areas.
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| The aftermath of Saudi-led airstrikes, a facet of the Yemen war. Sources: Reuters. |
The conflict in Yemen is a particularly important study to understand here, as it provides a broadened security concern within a significant mainstream international security realm. Not only that but different actors are at play when we discuss it, which deepens our understanding of the crisis apart from the armed conflict. However, providing a brief background to the current circumstances is a must. Situations began to take a turn under the influence of the Arab Spring movement in 2011, which caused then-President Saleh to be overthrown. The successive President Hadi, however, failed to deliver changes expected under his reign testing the patience of smaller groups (such as the Houthis) within Yemen, causing them to rebel. Post the Houthis intervention, things began to get complicated as the Saudi-led coalition relentlessly bombed Yemen. Saudi's claim to end Iran's influence in Yemen as they strongly suspected Iran of funding and supporting the Houthis through arms and ammunition. This conflict did not last months, but years, and is in existence even today. There are two aspects to note here. One, the Houthis uprising being a Shia minority, has put Saudi (Sunni dominated) in a tense situation. And Iranian influence only complicates the crisis. This aspect does in some ways portray the relativity of security. The second aspect, which is much more closely related to the food insecurity in Yemen, is the role of the Saudi-led coalition often blocking aid headed for the Yemenis people.
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| Children under 5 years, suffer from acute malnutrition in Yemen. Source: Reuters via BBC |
Moving to food insecurity, data suggests that more than 80% of the Yemenis population live below the poverty line, and two-thirds of its population does not have access to a proper meal . Yemen, is on its way to starvation, according to the United Nations. Not to mention the deteriorating conditions of women and children. To further delve into this humanitarian crisis, let us look at a few questions that would help us conceptualize this food crisis. One, whose security are we talking about? The Yemenis people, who are at the receiving end of this war. Two, what is it they need to be protected from? They need to be protected from starvation, diseases, and the violence inflicted upon them through force and the lack of access to basic amenities. Moreover, reports suggest that Houthis in several cases have blocked and taken aid for their associates, leaving millions vulnerable to food insecurity. Therefore, the people also need to be protected from the vested interest of such groups. Poverty is also a major impediment to accessing available food, not to mention the rising inflation in Yemen. Three, what could be the means through which this crisis can be handled? At the moment, given the complex nature of issues, international aid and donations seem to be the most important route to provide immediate relief. However, diplomatic efforts to dissolve the crisis and reinstate the government in the long run, could be another path to explore.
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| Destruction in Sana'a, civilians pay the price. Source: BBC |
Four, what is the purpose behind securing access to food? It is survival, the ability to live a healthy secure, life. Not only that but also to ensure a basic human right. Moreover, the very notion of a 'state' dissolves, if the people it is bound to serve, perish. Fifth and last, which actor provides food security to the Yemenis people? At the moment, international organizations such as the World Food Program (WFP), and different aid organizations along with individual donations and nation-based aids. Yet, there lies an impediment today, regarding the financial funding of the aid Yemen receives. According to WFP, there is a significant drop in its funds for its project in Yemen, not only that but as of 2021, the United Kingdom has cut 60% of its aid to Yemen, leaving millions on a path to starvation.
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| Millions are still dependent on foreign aid, in Yemen. Source: Reuters via BBC |
To sum up, the issue of food security signifies the broadened aspect of security, moving away from the mainstream focus of war and inter-state relations to a very much individual-based, domestic focus yet with a strong presence of international actors. And even with respect to actors, there is a considerable diversification of them, with the concept of state in the background. Especially in the case of Yemen. The concept of relativity of security plays out explicitly in the case of Houthis blocking and using aid for their group as millions suffer. Due to differing circumstances, the issue of food security has gained attention and can be viewed from several standpoints. The reason why certain questions were used to discuss the Yemenis crisis, was because they provide a systematic framework. This framework, I think helps provide a perception of the issue that has multiple layers to it, instead of a causal understanding which may ignore, the intricacies of the crisis. The very fact that lack of food access fits within the ambit of security also signifies the urgency and importance of the issue . A takeaway from the Yemenis crisis is to observe how a larger security concept of armed conflict, fall of a government, and interference of foreign interests, essentially lead to a ripple effect of broadened security issues such as food security, poverty, and so on. Therefore, making security a loaded term, that remains ambiguous and relative leaving a lot to unpack as one security issue branches into multiple security issues. Each voicing their concern, within the larger ambit of what we understand as security.
Bibliography
“The War in Yemen | Reuters.com.” Reuters. February 18, 2017.
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