The Politics of Food

Just a few years ago, Globalization was being hailed as the cure all for the world’s economic problems. There were cascades of platitudes about “level playing fields” and “a rising tide lifts all boats.” Prosperity for all was on the horizon. It hasn’t quite worked out that way. But it’s no surprise. The rich North has used so-called free trade agreements to further pauperize the South. The principle mechanism is massive subsidies to corporate agribusinesses who then dump their grains in Third World countries at below market prices. Farmers in India, Pakistan, Egypt, Mexico, and elsewhere can’t compete and face ruin. On another front the big multinationals are trying to patent seed stocks forcing farmers to buy new seeds from them. People in the Global South are organizing to defend their rights.