Unnatural Disasters: The History and Politics of Famines In-Person
Location: Kule Theatre, Room 9-323, Robbins Health Learning Centre, 10910 – 104 Avenue, Edmonton, AB
Speakers: Dr. Aidan Forth, Dr. Alissa Overend, Dr. Henry Prown
Moderator: Sheena Rossiter
In the 1870s, the British Empire stood as the wealthiest superpower on earth. In the 1930s, the Soviet Union experienced rapid economic growth even as the Great Depression devastated much of the capitalist world. Today, we live in an era of unprecedented material abundance. Yet across these vastly different historical contexts, hunger and famine persist.
This event examines the political, economic, and ethical dimensions of food scarcity across time and place — from the colonial famines of British India, to the Holodomor in Ukraine, to contemporary manifestations of food insecurity among Canadian indigenous populations. How do these cases illuminate the structural and ideological forces that produce hunger amid plenty? Why does famine recur despite advances in technology and global trade? And how might interdisciplinary perspectives and Canadian civic engagement contribute to understanding and addressing this enduring global challenge?