World Hunger - Assignment Example

World Hunger While the Western world has in large part developed means of subsistence that has brought citizens out of the fear of hunger, food shortages in developing countries still constitutes an important challenge of the contemporary world. Issues related to world hunger are great and complex with the core reasons causing this occurrence a much-debated sociological concept. In addition to approaching the issue from the sociological imagination there are a number of key issues researchers must consider.

This essay presents a broad sociological overview of the primary issues surrounding world hunger. While a great degree of altruism through government donations and non-profit organizations have attempted to solve world hunger through direct food donations, it’s clear that this is only a short-term solution to a long-term problem. Instead, solving world hunger requires that government organizations worked towards aiding developing nations through building infrastructure and improving overall economics.

One of the main points within this spectrum of understanding is that there is not a lack of food to feed individuals, but rather a lack of infrastructure and structural efficiency to see that the found makes its way to the right people. Consider this statement, “As shown in the Genetically Engineered Food and Human Population sections on this web site, people are hungry not due to lack of availability of food, but because people do not have the ability to purchase food and because distribution of food is not equitable” (Shaw).

Indeed, if government organizations could ensure that societies in developing nations had access to the proper funding, then to a great extent the problem of world hunger would be solved. Another core sociological concern related to world hunger is the issue of land ownership. Within this sociological spectrum of understanding the notable issue is that while there is land available for food production, in large part it is implemented for profit or exportation. This is one of the core roots behind the notion that through solving world poverty, one would also be solving the problem of world hunger.

The problem and challenges of land use in developing nations also has general elements that are functioning to hold these individuals in food-impoverished conditions. Consider Global Issues, “As well as misused, land may be well used, but not to meet people's needs…lots of sugar, tobacco, tea, coffee and other "luxuries turned into necessities"…these are grown disproportionately to real needs/demands” (Shah). The general understanding here is that while there is adequate agricultural land for subsistence food production this land is being implemented for profit gains rather than food production.

It’s clear that more emphasis must be placed on subsistence than profit gains. In conclusion, this essay has examined some of the core sociological concerns related to world hunger. While it would be extreme arrogance to assume that in the confines of an essay one could sufficiently articulate these concerns, it’s clear that questions of poverty and inefficient land-use are core concerns of the world poverty issue. Ultimately, this sociological analysis reveals that in solving the issues of world hunger, government organizations must work to develop more efficient infrastructure in these developing regions.

References Shah, Anap. (2010) ‘Land Rights’. Global Issues. http://www.globalissues.org/article/201/land-rights Shah, Anap. (2010) ‘Solving World Hunger Means Solving World Poverty’ Global Issues. http://www.globalissues.org/article/8/solving-world-hunger-means- solving-world-poverty