University Archives

This research paper examines the ways in which food security is defined, analyzed, and applied in the realms of national security and other theories in international relations. While previous research has looked at the ways in which food security is affected by national and international developments in a given country, there is no general agreement on whether food security is a national security issue. Definitions for food security also vary across different countries and organizations, providing no consensus for the term.

This paper addresses these gaps in the literature. Using international conflicts like the Arab Spring and domestic policies within countries like China, Brazil, Mexico and the United States, it argues that food security affects every nation and therefore requires both local and international responses. Data from domestic institutions like the USDA and international groups like the World Food Programme are also incorporated. The study demonstrates that there is a direct relationship between food security and national security, especially in an increasingly globalized world. Climate change, war and conflict therefore remain prevailing issues that challenge states’ capacity to respond in a timely manner. Food security therefore impacts national and global policies, which in turn can cause or exacerbate food insecurity on a transnational level.