Collective Actions of Solidarity against Food Insecurity

This book analyzes the issue of food insecurity in Europe. It highlights the role played by cities in promoting resilient, solidarity-based and food and nutritionally safe communities. The focus will be on three different local initiatives in Rome, Barcelona and Athens and on the relations between civil society and local public institutions in order to tackle with the food insecurity challenges. The research is aimed at understanding the paradox of food insecurity in wealthy societies. The focus will be on three European countries: Italy, Spain and Greece. An in-depth analysis on collective actions of solidarity to tackle food insecurity, will assess whether the initiatives are capabilities-oriented or merely compensating for shortcomings. Moreover, the contributions to the definition of a new food policy by and for the cities will be highlighted.

Autorentext
Daniela Bernaschi is an environmental and development economist, holding a PhD in Political and Social Change at the University of Florence and Turin. She deals with social inequalities, social citizenship and the role played by city-based initiatives in promoting sustainable and inclusive development.

Inhalt

Introduction. - Food insecurity in Europe: from the availability of food to the substantive freedoms in accessing it. - Collective initiatives and their innovative responses to food insecurity challenges. - Collective actions of solidarity and their impact in terms of capabilities. - The empirical research. - Emporium of Solidarity, Solidarity Card and Solidarity Kitchen: the impact of social solidarity in terms of capability for voice. - Emporium of Solidarity, Solidarity Card and Solidarity Kitchen: the impact of social solidarity in terms of strengthening the agency of beneficiaries. - Capabilities-oriented initiatives or mere compensation for shortcomings: a comparative reflection. - Concluding remarks