Credits: 3
ONLINE COURSE
This course reflects upon the question of “how can food be political?”. It looks at the causes of food (in)security, self-sufficiency in food production, the meaning of eating ethically, the ways of creating a sustainable food system in the world, and the roles that government plays in food production and supply. The course raises an important question regarding the uneven distribution of food and other basic resources in the world. It also analyzes food regulation in an open economy and a globalized world. The course is divided into three modules: i) conceptualization of food security, ii) analytical frameworks of food production/supply, and iii) food regulations. The first module on conceptualization of food security includes topics of politics of food security given the interaction of state and market, globalization of food supply, and sustainability of food production and consumption. The second module on analytic frameworks of food security includes topics of distributive justice, intellectual property rights, food and environmental degradation, culture/ideas on food, and contestations/movements for food justice. The third module on food regulation and trade includes topics of multilateral governance of food regulation, classification of regulations, control of animal and plant pests/diseases, control of human health hazards, and regulating quality through labeling and standards.
