Hunger and the state: a comparative case study of Cuba and India

Abstract

Around 1990, Cuba decided to boost domestic self-reliance in food security, and, at the same time, India adopted neoliberal reforms. In 2018, India ranked 103 out of 119 countries listed on the Global Hunger Index, whereas Cuba is one of the top 15 nations with the lowest scores for hunger in the population. This article examines an alternative to the globally prescribed norm of neoliberal reforms and probes the critical role played by the state in maintaining food security.