Famine Crimes: Politics & the Disaster Relief Industry in Africa (Paperback)

~ Alex de Waal (Author) "For almost a century there has been no excuse for famine..." (more)
Key Phrases: food security approach, freedom from famine, famine theory, Security Council, Geneva Conventions, World Bank (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Famine Crimes is without question the most important intervention in the broad field of famine prevention since the publication of Amartya Sen's Poverty and Famine... - Michael Watts in DEVELOPMENT & CHANGE ...an important book by a writer whose accomplishments as a researcher, critic and activist on famine and on human rights in Africa are widely respected. It is also a book which is causing distress and anger in some humanitarian organizations. - John Harriss in INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS If Famine Crimes does not have all the answers, it nevertheless poses many key questions, and it does so by means of a readable, provocative and empirical analysis of crises with which the author has been passionately involved. It is a powerful critique of current practices that will be a milestone in the literature on aid and conflict. - David Keen in THE TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Description

"A powerful critique of the international humanitarian agencies dominating famine relief in Africa." -- Foreign Affairs

"This is unquestionably an important book by a writer whose accomplishments as a researcher, critic and activist on famine and on human rights in Africa are widely respect." -- International Affairs

"... de Waal pleads for readers... to probe for a deeper understanding of the 'political roots of famine'... " -- WorldView

"... a well-documented critique that should give pause for serious reflection and serve to instruct both the initiate and the master of famine theory... " -- Sociocultural Anthropology

Famine Crimes is a factually rich, powerfully intelligent, morally important analysis of the persistence of famine in Africa. Alex de Waal lays the blame for Africa's problems with starvation on the political failings of African governments, western donors, and the misguided policies of international relief agencies.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Indiana University Press (October 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0253211581
• ISBN-13: 978-0253211583
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #290,648 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A thought-provoking,worthwhile read., July 25, 1998

By A Customer

This is a managable text,even for the novice in African current afairs and is written by the co-director of the Africa Rights group,based in London. De Waal contends that the causes of famine are invariably political and avoidable.He is critical of the activities to date of many aid agencies and observes that they have in many cases paradoxically perpetuated the very crises they have been seeking to end. This work has raised many questions for me and is a starting point for further reading on the subject of how aid to developing countries can be best delivered.

15 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars americans shot black hawk down, April 9, 2002

By	David Roman Bermejo (Madrid, Madrid Spain) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Famine Crimes: Politics & the Disaster Relief Industry in Africa (African Issues) (Hardcover)

Grown-ups should know that journalists rarely get their stories right. This book, presented as a straightforward examination of the NGO's 'Aid-Game' and their complementary 'Aid-Circus', ends up being all the more poignant when it targets Western misconceptions and the Neo-colonialism that has installed itself in the Western media and elites under the catchphrase 'Humanitarian Intervention'. You don't have to believe me - just read this fantastic book, written by a former member of the NGO's international, and find out how and why famines really start and really end, as opposed as what you hear on newspapers and TV. If you wanna know why Black Hawk went down, this is the book to start. If you remember those Ethiopian children you thought you saved by buying tickets for charity concerts, maybe you wanna know the truth.