Violent conflict, capitalism and insurgent food sovereignty

Historically, war-making and state-making have facilitated resource extraction and capital expansion through colonialism and global food regimes. Weaponization and financialization of food systems perpetuate rural vulnerability amidst violent conflicts, undermining food sovereignty. Yet, despite territorializing logic of state and capital, sovereignty can also emerge ‘from below’ in relational and decentralized ways in contexts of war through insurgent everyday territorialities. Adopting a scholar-activist approach and drawing on experiences from Kashmir, Pakistan, Palestine, Ethiopia, Myanmar, Colombia, Brazil, Mexico, Lebanon, Yemen, and Egypt, we propose the concept of ‘insurgent food sovereignty’ and reflect on building food sovereignty in contexts of war and violence.