The political economy of food security, conflict, and terrorism in sub-Saharan Africa

Food insecurity, conflict, and terrorism are on the rise across the developing world, particularly in Sub- Saharan Africa (SSA). These trends highlight the increasing need to understand the dynamics of food insecurity and regional stability. The factors influencing food security, conflict, and terrorism are often interconnected with poverty, weak institutions, and economic infrastructure. Based in the four pillars of food security coined by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO); availability, access, utilization and stability, changes in the two foundational pillars availability and access can exacerbate the preexisting economic and political conditions of a region to incite violence, conflict, and terrorism. This study seeks to isolate the relationships between food security, government effectiveness, individual economic well-being, and their subsequent impact on conflict and terrorism in SSA, utilizing panel data of SSA countries from 1997-2018.