First World Hunger Revisited ― Food Charity or the Right to Food?

Hunger and food poverty are rising in many of the world's richest societies. Yet, governments are leaving the primary response up to food charities and corporately sponsored food banks. What is the scale of the problem? Who are the hungry? Who wins, who loses and why are governments violating their obligations under international law to ensure the food security of their most vulnerable citizens? Originally addressed in the 1997 book First World Hunger, this new expanded cross-national study re-examines these questions in twelve high-income countries and emerging economies – Australia, Brazil, Canada, Estonia, Hong Kong, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, the UK, the USA, Finland and Turkey. It challenges the effectiveness of food aid and argues for integrated income redistribution, agriculture, food, health and social policies informed by the Right to Food, whilst critiquing the lack of public policy and political will in achieving food security for all.

Graham Riches is Emeritus Professor and former Director of the School of Social Work, University of British Columbia, Canada. His social policy research, publications and advocacy include the politics of hunger, social welfare and food justice in the North and South, and the implementation of the Right to Food.

Tiina Silvasti is a Lecturer in the Department Social Sciences and Philosophy at the University of Jyvaskyla, Finland. She has studied the social and cultural consequences of structural change in agriculture in Finland. Her recent research interests lie in food system studies and First World hunger.