Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!

Jean-Martin Bauer's The New Breadline: Hunger and Hope in the 21st Century offers a critical examination of how colonial capitalism has perpetuated food crises from historical epochs to the modern-day epidemic of food deserts. Bauer, a Haitian-American humanitarian aid worker, draws from his extensive field experience to illuminate the political and historical contexts of food access, deftly revealing the havoc industrialization and commercial farming have wrought on vulnerable communities.

The book opens with Bauer's poignant recollections of his time providing aid in Haiti, a country deeply scarred by colonial exploitation and modern economic disparities. His firsthand experiences underscore a central theme: the systems creating and sustaining acute hunger are deeply embedded in political and economic frameworks. Bauer effectively unearths the intricate connections between politics and food, demonstrating how global capitalism has commodified food, transforming it from a basic necessity into a privilege accessible only to those who can afford it.

Bauer's writing is both direct and analytical, employing clear and impactful language to highlight systemic issues and historical contexts. He argues that economic disparities are the primary drivers of food insecurity, drawing parallels between capitalism, the climate crisis, commercialized farming, and the food industry. Through detailed analyses, Bauer elucidates how these unsustainable and inequitable models exacerbate global hunger.

The book is particularly compelling in its staunch anti-neoliberal approach, revealing how global capitalism's impact on impoverished nations has created and maintained food crises. Bauer's arguments expose the failures of international governmental bodies to protect citizens from starvation inflicted by corporate greed and colonial legacies. His assertion that those who control the food ultimately control the people, both in times of war and peace, is a powerful reminder of the political nature of hunger.

Despite the grim realities presented, The New Breadline is not without hope. Bauer documents the resilience and creativity of communities impacted by food crises, showcasing strategies of survival and resistance. From Haiti's hurricane and dictator recovery efforts to the Central African Republic's 2013 crises, and from Yemen and Syria's civil conflicts to the COVID-19 pandemic's revelation of food insecurity in upper-middle-class white communities, Bauer's experiences provide a rich tapestry of global perspectives.

Bauer's critique extends to the complacency toward hunger affecting marginalized groups and the sudden urgency when it impacts more privileged populations. This dichotomy underscores the pervasive inequalities in our global food systems and calls for a collective reimagining of food access. Bauer's vision of "a better food future for us all" is both an inspiring call to action and a sobering reminder of the work that remains.

The New Breadline is a vital contribution to the discourse on food justice, offering profound insights into the systemic and structural causes of food insecurity. Bauer's blend of personal narrative and analytical rigor makes for a compelling and enlightening read, challenging readers to confront the political realities of hunger and to envision a world where food is a right, not a commodity.

📖 Recommended For: Readers who seek insightful analysis of global food crises, those interested in the intersections of politics and food security, anyone passionate about social justice and humanitarian work, fans of books by activists and aid workers like Paul Farmer.

🔑 Key Themes: Colonial Capitalism, Economic Disparities, Systemic Corruption, Resilience and Resistance, Global Food Insecurity, Political Control through Hunger.