The United States' Response to the Ethiopian Food Crisis

Summary: "This report discusses the need for massive food aid in Ethiopia, policy concerns raised within the U.S. government and among other members of the international donor community about providing emergency food aid to Ethiopia, and when and how the United States responded to this crisis"

"Makes a persuasive case that the Marxist government of Ethiopia induced famine and was reluctant to obtain or use this benevolent aid to provide effective relief until its contribution to the achievement of revolutionary goals could be assured. . . . Varnis skillfully documents the intricacies of PVO (private voluntary organization) actions to merge government donor and recipient policies. In so doing, he successfully refutes Third World dependency theory doctrines but paints a gloomy picture of continuing food deficits in Ethiopia's future." --T. M. Vestal, Choice "A welcome contribution. He provides a detailed, clear-headed, and accurate analysis of U.S. famine relief to Ethiopia in 1983-86, when good aid was used by the Marxist-Leninist regime for political, military, and ideological ends. Asks all the rights questions and provides most of the right answers." --Michael Radu, Orbis This book undertakes a systematic analysis of responsibilities for the 1983-86 Ethiopian famine and its relief, drawing upon a wide range of materials and personal observation in Ethiopia itself. The policy sources of the famine are described in detail, assessing regional variations in Ethiopian food policy and the inducement of famine.