The causes and consequences of the great famines of the last two centuries in Russia, China, Ireland and elsewhere

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Famines have huge human, economic, social and cultural costs. A better understanding of the multi-faceted dimensions of past famines - the interplay between politics, economics, environment and culture in causing and shaping the response to famine events - will better inform public policy in regard to analogous large-scale crises, including the impact of flu pandemics and climate change. The comparative study of the causes, progress, responses to and effect of the great famines of the last two centuries might serve to better inform our understanding and response to such events.