Drought and Famine: Crash Course World History #208

CrashCourse
5 Sept 201410:29
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn this Crash Course World History episode, John Green discusses the man-made nature of famines, focusing on historical examples like Stalin's collectivization and Mao's Great Leap Forward. He explores how market forces, government policies, and ideology contribute to these disasters, using the late 19th-century Indian famines as a case study. Green emphasizes that famines are not natural but are often a result of human actions, and concludes with a hopeful note on the decline of undernourishment in recent times.

Takeaways
  • 🌾 Famines are often man-made disasters, not just natural ones.
  • 🍽️ Starvation results from a lack of access to food, not necessarily a lack of food.
  • 🏛️ Government policies and poor relief efforts can exacerbate famines.
  • 🔄 Market forces and economic policies can also lead to famine, as seen in capitalist societies.
  • 🌍 Famines frequently occur in the global south, influenced by weather patterns like El Niño.
  • 🇮🇳 The late 19th-century famines in India were worsened by British colonial policies and taxation.
  • 🚂 Railroads in British India often transported raw materials instead of alleviating famine.
  • 💡 Famines are complex and have multiple causes, not just one single factor.
  • 🤝 Effective famine relief requires understanding the nuanced causes and addressing them comprehensively.
  • 🌈 Despite historical famines, modern agricultural technologies have reduced the number of undernourished people worldwide.
Q & A

  • What is the main topic of the video script provided?

    -The main topic of the video script is the discussion of drought and famine, their causes, and their historical context, with a focus on the role of human actions and policies in exacerbating these issues.

  • According to the script, what does Amartya Sen suggest about the nature of starvation?

    -Amartya Sen suggests that starvation is not about the absence of enough food, but rather about the lack of access to food that might be available in the vicinity of the starving individuals.

  • What are some examples of man-made disasters related to famines mentioned in the script?

    -Examples of man-made disasters related to famines include Stalin's collectivization and terror, which killed millions in Ukraine and Russia, and Mao's Great Leap Forward, which caused famines resulting in up to 10 million deaths in China.

  • How does the script relate market forces to the occurrence of famines in a capitalist world?

    -The script explains that in a capitalist world, market forces can lead to famines when there is enough food available but people cannot afford to buy it, leading to price hikes, hoarding by those who can afford it, and starvation for those who cannot.

  • What role does El Niño play in the context of droughts and famines as discussed in the script?

    -El Niño affects wind and rain patterns, leading to weak monsoons and droughts in parts of Asia, Africa, and northeastern South America. This can exacerbate agricultural production issues and contribute to famines in these regions.

  • What is the historical significance of the Indian famines in the 19th century mentioned in the script?

    -The Indian famines in the 19th century were significant because they resulted in the loss of millions of lives and highlighted the devastating combination of market forces, government policy, ideology, and bad weather, which were all contributing factors to these catastrophes.

  • How did British colonial policies in India contribute to the famines of the late 19th century?

    -British colonial policies, such as forcing peasants into the market economy through taxes and promoting cash crops like cotton over food production, contributed to the famines. Additionally, the British continued to collect taxes and confiscated lands during droughts, further exacerbating the situation.

  • What was the impact of railroads on the Indian famines as described in the script?

    -The railroads in India, while potentially useful for bringing food to famine-stricken areas, were primarily used to ship raw materials to markets. In some cases, they may have even worsened the situation by facilitating the rapid movement of people and resources away from areas in need.

  • What is the open letter in the script about, and how does it relate to the topic of famines?

    -The open letter in the script is addressed to 'The Ghost and The Darkness,' two famous man-eating lions. It relates to the topic of famines by discussing how human actions, such as building railroads and hunting game for laborers, can create conditions that lead to unusual behaviors like lions eating humans.

  • How does the script challenge the idea that famines are solely natural disasters?

    -The script challenges this idea by demonstrating that while natural disasters like droughts can create shortages, it is often human actions, such as government policies and market forces, that turn these shortages into full-blown famines with widespread starvation.

  • What is the script's final message regarding the prevention of famines?

    -The final message of the script is that with current agricultural technologies and understanding, there is no reason for starvation to exist. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing the role of human actions in creating or preventing famines and encourages looking for human influence rather than attributing these issues solely to natural causes.

Outlines
00:00
🌍 Drought and Famine: Man-Made Disasters

In this segment, John Green introduces the topic of drought and famine, emphasizing that these are primarily man-made disasters rather than mere natural occurrences. He highlights the importance of access to resources over the mere existence of resources, using Amartya Sen's quote to illustrate that starvation is often due to the inability to obtain food, not the lack of food itself. Green also discusses the role of governments in exacerbating famines, citing examples such as Stalin's collectivization and Mao's Great Leap Forward. He further explores how market forces in capitalist societies can lead to famines, where people starve not because there's no food, but because they can't afford it. The segment concludes with a discussion on how natural disasters like droughts can create shortages, but it's human actions like hoarding that make them worse.

05:00
📚 The Impact of British Colonial Policies on Indian Famines

This paragraph delves into the historical context of Indian famines in the late 19th century, focusing on the devastating effects of British colonial policies. Green explains how the British industrial revolution led to the decline of the Indian textile industry, forcing many into debt and increasing their reliance on cotton farming. British tax policies further pushed peasants into the market economy, leading to less land for food crops and more for cash crops like cotton. The consequences of the 1876-1878 El Niño drought are highlighted, where British administrators continued to collect taxes, forcing farmers to prioritize cotton over food. The paragraph also touches on the British use of railroads, which often facilitated the export of raw materials rather than the distribution of food during famines. Green concludes by discussing the British approach to famine relief, which was often inadequate and based on flawed ideologies and racial prejudices.

10:04
🌱 The Complexity of Famine and the Pursuit of Peace

In the final paragraph, Green wraps up the discussion on famine by addressing the complexity of its causes and the importance of recognizing human agency in these disasters. He critiques the simplistic view that famines are solely the result of natural causes, arguing that human actions and policies play a significant role. Green also touches on the irony of the British blaming famines on natural causes while implementing policies that exacerbated the situation. He concludes on a hopeful note, pointing out that despite the challenges, there are fewer undernourished people today than ever before, thanks to advancements in agricultural technology and food security measures. Green reminds viewers that while droughts may be inevitable, starvation is not, and that it's crucial to look for human influence in what we might prefer to see as acts of God.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Drought
Drought refers to a period of unusually low precipitation, leading to a shortage of water. In the video, it is discussed as a natural disaster that can contribute to famine, but not the sole cause. The script mentions how droughts, like the one in Florida before a hurricane, can exacerbate food shortages and lead to hoarding, which in turn can worsen famine conditions.
💡Famine
Famine is a widespread scarcity of food that causes extreme hunger and starvation among a large population. The video emphasizes that famines are often man-made disasters, not just natural ones. The script provides historical examples, such as the famines in the Soviet Union under Stalin and in China during Mao's Great Leap Forward, where government policies directly contributed to mass starvation.
💡Amartya Sen
Amartya Sen is a Nobel Prize-winning economist who is quoted in the script to highlight that starvation is about the inability to obtain food, not the absence of food itself. His perspective is central to the video's argument that famines are about access to resources, not just their existence.
💡El Niño
El Niño is a climate pattern that affects weather globally, often causing droughts and altering monsoon patterns. The script explains how El Niño can contribute to famines by causing weak monsoons, which are critical for agriculture in regions like Asia and Africa. However, it also clarifies that El Niño alone does not cause famine, emphasizing the role of human factors.
💡Market Forces
Market forces are the economic principles that influence supply and demand in a capitalist economy. The video discusses how market forces can lead to famine when food prices rise due to shortages or panic, making it unaffordable for some people, even if there is enough food available overall.
💡Collectivization
Collectivization refers to the process of consolidating individual property into collective ownership, as seen in the Soviet Union under Stalin. The script uses this term to describe policies that led to the forced consolidation of farms and subsequent famine, illustrating how certain government policies can contribute to man-made disasters.
💡Great Leap Forward
The Great Leap Forward was a policy initiated by Mao Zedong in China aimed at rapidly industrializing the country. The script mentions this as an example of a government policy that led to widespread famine and millions of deaths due to its failure and the resulting economic and social upheaval.
💡Colonial India
Colonial India refers to the period when India was under British rule. The video discusses the famines in 19th-century India as a result of British colonial policies, such as high taxes and the prioritization of cash crops like cotton over food, which led to widespread starvation.
💡Railroads
Railroads are a mode of transportation that played a significant role in the British colonial era in India. The script mentions that while railroads could have been used to distribute food during famines, they were often used to transport raw materials to markets, contributing to the severity of the famines.
💡Laissez Faire
Laissez Faire is an economic policy that emphasizes minimal government intervention in the economy. The video contrasts this with the collectivist policies of Mao and Stalin, showing that both extremes can lead to famine if not balanced with considerations for the welfare of the people.
💡Undernourishment
Undernourishment is a state of not receiving enough nutrients to maintain good health. The video concludes on a positive note, stating that there are fewer undernourished people today than at any point in history, highlighting the progress made in addressing global food security and the potential for further improvement.
Highlights

Introduction to the topic of drought and famine, with a humorous remark about the lack of 'peace and happiness' topics.

Amartya Sen's quote: 'Starvation is the characteristic of some people not having enough food to eat. It is not the characteristic of there not being enough to eat.'

Explanation that famines are often man-made disasters, not just natural occurrences.

Examples of government policies causing famines, such as Stalin's collectivization and Mao's Great Leap Forward.

Impact of market forces on famines, including hoarding during shortages and price inflation.

Discussion of the role of natural disasters, like droughts and El Niño, in exacerbating famines.

Highlight of the devastating famines in India during British colonial rule and the combination of market forces, government policy, ideology, and bad weather.

Critique of essentializing historical events by looking for a single cause; the importance of nuanced understanding.

The economic impact of British colonization on India's textile industry and the shift to cash crops like cotton.

British colonial tax policies and their impact on Indian farmers, pushing them into debt and reducing food production.

Railroads in British India exacerbating famines by prioritizing resource export over local food distribution.

Comparison of famines caused by different economic systems, highlighting that both collectivist and free market policies can lead to famine.

Victorian justification for famine relief policies based on Malthusian ideas and the moral implications.

Conditions in British work camps during famines and the high death rates due to insufficient rations.

Positive note on the decline in global hunger and the importance of recognizing human factors in preventing starvation.

Transcripts

Browse More Related Video

Climate Change, Chaos, and The Little Ice Age: Crash Course World History #206

Democracy, Authoritarian Capitalism, and China: Crash Course World History 230

Dutch Golden Age: Crash Course European History #15

Progressive Presidents: Crash Course US History #29

Why Chairman Mao Is Responsible For More Than 45 Million Deaths | Mao's Great Famine | Timeline

The Roads to World War I: Crash Course European History #32

Rate This

5.0 / 5 (0 votes)

Thanks for rating:

Related Tags
World HistoryFamine CausesEconomic PolicyResource AccessGovernment FailureMarket ForcesEl Niño ImpactColonial IndiaTextile IndustryBritish ColonialismFood Security