Reconciling the History of Famine in Ethiopia and the Current Humanitarian Crisis with Alex DeWaal

In this episode, guest hosts Kimberly Flowers and Jacob Kurtzer are joined by Alex DeWaal, Executive Director of the World Peace Foundation and a Research Professor at The Fletcher School of Tufts University, to discuss the current humanitarian crisis and famine in Ethiopia. Dr. DeWaal describes the historical context that led Ethiopia to its current crisis, explaining how Ethiopia’s prior success in reducing hunger devolved into today’s famine. In addition, Dr. DeWaal discusses famine’s changing role in conflict and humanitarian crises writ large and the international community’s role in defining and reducing famine. Finally, Dr. DeWaal recommends actions international institutions can take to maintain an ethics-based multilateral world order.