The New Geopolitics of Hunger: When Food Becomes the Ultimate Weapon

Abstract

This study investigates the strategic weaponization of food in modern geopolitical conflicts, contextualized within historical precedents from ancient sieges to contemporary economic sanctions. Through case studies of Russia’s disruption of Ukrainian grain exports (2022–2024), the Saudi-led blockade in Yemen (2015–present), and China’s food trade leverage via export bans and the Belt and Road Initiative, the paper reveals how states manipulate food systems to destabilize adversaries and consolidate power. Employing Realist, Constructivist, and Human Security frameworks, the analysis demonstrates that such tactics exacerbate humanitarian crises, causing mass starvation, displacement, and intergenerational poverty, disproportionately impacting marginalized groups. Despite prohibitions under international law (e.g., Geneva Conventions), enforcement remains inconsistent, enabling cycles of impunity. The study critiques the limitations of UN agencies and sanctions regimes in mitigating food coercion and advocates for robust legal accountability, climate-resilient agriculture, and technological innovations (e.g., AI, blockchain) to enhance supply chain transparency. It calls for interdisciplinary research to address gaps in understanding non-state actor involvement and long-term socio-economic impacts. By redefining food security as a fundamental human right rather than a geopolitical tool, the paper urges global governance reforms to decouple food access from conflict dynamics.