The Politics of Famine Response: The Case of 1984-85 Ethiopian Famine

Abstract

An eclectic approach is taken to examine reasons for the 1984/85 famine in Ethiopia. In the global politico-ideological context, the response to the crisis was unprecedented in terms of the outpourings of sympathy & assistance from private citizens & lay & church groups all over the world. At the same time, the governments of Western donor countries, Soviet-block countries, & Ethiopia itself were slow to react & displayed much insensitivity. The Western donor governments were persuaded by the moral concerns of their people into taking action only after the disaster had done irreversible damage. Thus, the response of the private citizen provides a beacon of hope to those who meet such crises in the future.