So-called "food riots" have gotten a lot of attention in recent years, but what role do food and food prices actually play in violent demonstrations and conflicts? The May issue of the World Bank Food Price Watch finds that the relationship between food and violence takes several forms, involving not only food prices but also food supplies and competition over agricultural and infrastructure resources.
The report utilizes a database of violent food riots (defined as events involving deaths, injuries, arrests, and/or property damage), as reported by the news media between 2007 and 2014. This search identified 51 food-related violent events in 37 countries during this time.
In situations where there is already an undercurrent of unrest, due to grievances such as high poverty rates or income inequality, the transmission of high international food prices to local markets can be the spark in the powder keg. These types of food riots, classified by the World Bank report as "type 1," often take place in urban environments and are aimed against government agencies and other public authorities.
Another type of food riot, "type 2" in the World Bank report, relates to food supplies. These events typically center around food supply trucks or refugee camps, and are more common in times of severe shortage. The report also points out a third type of event, one involving farmers and farm workers rather than consumers and centering around structural issues such as competition over land and water sources. This last type is also more likely to develop into a longer term social movement.
While the causes of food riots can vary, the resulting conflicts can all lead to political instability, displacement of significant portions of the population, and reduced agricultural production. Thus, protests that begin over high food prices or lack of access to food can in the end lead to increased food insecurity themselves. The report concludes with the need to continue monitoring food prices in a timely, transparent manner so that policymakers can work to address potential sources of conflict.
The monthly World Bank Food Price Watch also presents global price trends; this month's report finds that international food prices increased 4% between January and April 2014, with particularly sharp increases for wheat and maize.