Famine, Food Insecurity and Social Exclusion In Turbulent Times: Global Perspectives on Vulnerability and Resilience

The contemporary world is marked by interconnected crises including climate change, armed conflicts, economic instability, forced migration, pandemics, and widening inequalities. These challenges have intensified food insecurity, poverty, and social exclusion across both developed and developing societies. In this context, famine must be understood not merely as a shortage of food, but as a multidimensional social phenomenon rooted in unequal access to resources, opportunities, and rights.

Aligned with the XXI ISA World Congress theme, “Global Sociology in Turbulent Times,” this session explores the key dimensions captured in the WG05 acronym FAMINE: Food insecurity, Alienation, Marginalization, Inequality, the Negative impacts of natural and human-made disasters, and Exclusion from mainstream society. The session examines how these processes interact with class, caste, race, ethnicity, gender, citizenship, and geography to shape experiences of deprivation, vulnerability, and social conflict.

The session welcomes theoretical, empirical, historical, comparative, and policy-oriented contributions from scholars across the Global North and South. Papers may address food insecurity, climate change, disaster impacts, livelihood crises, market volatility, displacement, social protection, welfare policies, and community resilience. Particular attention will be given to grassroots responses and alternative pathways that promote food security, social justice, and inclusive development.

By fostering international dialogue, the session seeks to advance sociological understanding of famine and related forms of deprivation while highlighting strategies for building more equitable, resilient, and sustainable societies in turbulent times.