1. An overview of food politics -- What is food politics? -- Is food politics driven by material interests or by social values? -- Is food politics a global or local phenomenon? -- Who are the most important actors in food politics? -- Has the politics of food and agriculture recently been changing? --2. Food production and population growth -- Who was Thomas Malthus, and why did he see hunger as inevitable? -- Was Malthus every influential? -- Are Malthusians still influential? -- Can we feed a growing population without doing irreversible damage to the environment? -- Is Africa facing an eco-Malthusian food crisis today? -- Do Malthusians try to reduce population growth? -- Do Malthusians argue that we should reduce food consumption? -- 3. The politics of high food prices -- When did high food prices become a political issue? -- What caused these spikes in international food prices? -- How many people became hungry when prices spiked in 2007-2008? -- Do international food price spikes cause violent conflict? -- Have higher food prices triggered "land grabs" in Africa? -- Have subsidies and mandates for biofuels contributed to higher international food prices? -- Have higher international prices become a permanent feature of food politics? -- 4. The politics of chronic hunger and famine -- How do we measure hunger? -- How many people around the world remain chronically undernourished? -- What causes chronic undernutrition? -- Does chronic hunger trigger political unrest? -- Is chronic undernutrition a problem in the United States? -- Do developing countries have policy remedies for chronic undernutrition? -- What is the difference between undernutrition and famine? -- When have famines taken place? -- What causes famines? -- How do famines end? -- What has been the most successful international response to famine? -- Can famine be prevented? -- 5. Food aid and agricultural development assistance -- What is international food aid? -- Which countries get food aid? -- Do rich countries give food aid to dispose of their surplus production? -- Why are America's food aid policies so difficult to change? -- Does food aid create dependence or hurt farmers in recipient countries? -- Do governments seek coercive power from food aid? -- How is agricultural development assistance different from food aid? -- How much international assistance do rich countries provide for agricultural development? -- Which agencies operate United States agricultural development assistance? -- Who benefits from agricultural development assistance?

6. The green revolution controversy -- What was the green revolution? -- Why is the green revolution controversial? -- Did the green revolution end hunger? -- Did the green revolution lead to greater rural inequality? -- Was the green revolution bad for the environment? -- Why did the original green revolution not reach Africa? -- What farming approaches do green revolution critics favor? -- How have green revolution critics shaped international policy? -- 7. The politics of obesity -- Is the world facing an obesity crisis? -- How do we measure obesity? -- What are the consequences of the obesity epidemic? -- What is the cause of today's obesity epidemic? -- Does cheap food cause obesity? -- Do fast foods and junk foods cause obesity? -- Is the food industry to blame for the way we eat? -- Do "food deserts" cause obesity? -- What government actions are being taken to reverse the obesity crisis? -- Who lobbies for and against stronger policies on obesity? -- 8. The politics of farm subsidies and trade -- Do all governments give subsidies to farmers? -- What explains the tendency of all rich countries to subsidize farm income? -- Do farmers in rich countries need subsidies to survive? -- Why are farm subsidies hard to cut? -- What is the "farm bill" and what is the "farm lobby"? -- Is the use of corn for ethanol a subsidy to farmers? -- What is the value of promoting corn-based ethanol in the United States? -- How do farm subsidies shape international agricultural trade? -- Has the WTO been able to discipline farm subsidies? -- Do trade agreements like NAFTA hurt farmers in countries like Mexico? -- 9. Farming, the environment, climate change, and water -- Does agriculture always damage the environment? -- What kind of farming is environmentally sustainable? -- what is low-impact or "precision" farming? -- Do fragile lands, population growth, and poverty make farming unsustainable? -- Do cash crops and export crops cause environmental damage in agriculture? -- How will climate change affect food production? -- Does agriculture contribute to climate change? -- Is the world running out of water to irrigate crops? -- 10. Livestock, meat, and fish -- How are farm animals different from crops? -- Is meat consumption increasing, or not? -- Is a vegetarian diet healthier? -- If people in rich countries ate less meat, would hunger be reduced in poor countries? -- What are CAFOs? -- Are CAFOs bad for animal welfare? -- What else generates opposition to CAFOs? -- How important are fish as a source of food? -- Are wild fisheries collapsing? -- Is fish farming a solution?

11. Agribusiness, supermarkets, and fast food -- What does the word "agribusiness" mean? -- Why is agribusiness controversial? -- Do agribusiness firms control farmers? -- Do food companies and supermarkets control consumers? -- Are supermarkets spreading into developing countries? -- Is Wal-Mart taking over food retailing in Africa and India? -- Are fast food restaurant chains spreading unhealthy eating habits worldwide? -- 12. Organic local food -- What is organic food? -- What is the history of organic food? -- How is organic food regulated in the United States? -- Is most organic food grown on small farms? -- Is organic food more nutritious and safe? -- Is organic farming better for the environment? -- Could today's world be fed with organically grown food? -- What is the local food movement? -- What explains the growing market for local food? -- What is urban agriculture? -- Does local food help slow climate change? -- What is the difference between local food and slow food? -- What explains the loyalty of some groups to organic, local, or slow food? -- 13. Food safety and genetically engineered foods -- How safe is America's food supply? -- How do foods become contaminated? -- Who regulates food contamination in the United States? -- Is food safety an issue in international trade? -- Does the industrialization of agriculture make food less safe? -- Is irradiated food safe? -- What is genetically modified food? -- How are genetically engineered foods regulated? -- How widespread are genetically engineered foods? -- Why do some people resist GMOs? -- Do genetically engineered crops strengthen corporate control? -- Are GMO foods and crops safe? -- Could genetically engineered crops provide benefits to small farmers in developing countries? -- 14. Who governs the world food system -- Is there a single world food system? -- How do national governments exercise control? -- Which are the most important international organizations in the food and farming sector? -- What has limited the influence of international organizations? -- Do multinational corporations control the world food system? -- How much power do non-governmental organizations have? -- What is the role of private foundations? -- 15. The future of food politics -- In the future, will obesity continue to replace hunger as the world's most serious food problem? -- In the future, will food and farming systems become more localized or more globalized? -- In the future, will the spread of affluent eating habits destroy the natural environment? -- In the future, will the politics of food remain contentious?