Famine in Historical Perspective

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2012:

10 hours per week: total time commitment 120 hours

Usually admission to the postgraduate diploma or fourth-year honours in history (or in a relevant program) or enrolment in a relevant coursework Masters program

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For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

This seminar examines the changing food problems for society as societies develop, and of how these problems intensify and become recognised as famines. We study the nature of famine and the policies applied by the state to alleviate or avoid famine, and how these have changed over time. The seminar will consider the history of a number of the world’s major famines from different times and in different locations including the Great European Famine of 1315, the Great Irish Famine of 1847, the Russian and Chinese Famines of their Great Leap Periods (1927-33 and 1954-61), and World War famines including the classical Bengal Famine of 1943. Particular attention will also be paid to modern world food problems caused by the threat of war, terrorism, global warming and continuing poverty in parts of Africa, South America and Asia.

Students who complete this subject will

• be able to demonstrate a good understanding of the theories of the nature of famine and of why and when they occurred.
• be able to analyse the factors that contributed to famines and the consequence of famines.
• be able to make historically informed comparative assessments of the causation and consequences of famine

A class paper of 2000 words 40% (due during the semester) and a written researched essay of 3000 words 60% (due during the examination period).

Hurdle Requirement: Students are required to attend a minimum of 75% of classes in order to pass this subject. Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 2% per working day. All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject.

A subject reader will be available.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Students who complete this subject will

• demonstrate research skills through competent use of the library and other research information resources
• show critical thinking and analysis, and an ability to determine the strength of argument through essay writing and seminar discussion