Settler colonialism de-develops food systems in protracted crises

Area of Science:

• Food Systems Analysis
• Colonial Studies
• Political Ecology

Background:

• Current policies addressing food systems in protracted crises often overlook the profound impact of colonialism and settler colonialism.
• Existing frameworks tend to view these crises through a narrow lens of humanitarian aid versus economic underdevelopment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a novel framework for understanding food systems in protracted crises.
• To highlight the critical role of colonial and settler colonial regimes in de-developing food systems through slow violence and land dispossession.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual framework development.
• Critical analysis of existing policy responses.
• Examination of historical and ongoing colonial practices impacting Indigenous food systems.

Main Results:

• Identified colonialism and settler colonialism as central drivers of food system de-development in protracted crises.
• Demonstrated how slow violence and land dispossession by colonial regimes undermine native food systems.
• Highlighted the state's role in perpetuating violence against Indigenous food systems.

Conclusions:

• Acknowledging and investigating the structural drivers of colonial and settler colonial regimes is essential for successful policy interventions.
• A decolonial lens is critical for comprehending and addressing the complexities of food systems in protracted crises.
• Policy success hinges on recognizing the state's complicity in the erosion of Indigenous peoples' food systems.