Paper details

Paper authors	Abraham Diing
In panel on	The politics of solidarity during famine
Paper presenter(s) will be presenting	In-Person / Online

Abstract

Abstract
This paper examines the role of customary chiefs in ensuring resources are shared among people during hunger, their role as social network interlockers and their impact as customary authority. Based on the qualitative research in Jonglei State’s greater Bor, we analyze the importance of hunger courts in helping people to survive during hunger. We examine mechanisms used by the communities to cope with hunger. How chiefs get people to comply with their decisions to help others during hunger, share their food or resources with others. Further to this, we examine communities’ relationships with chiefs, we ask, why community members don’t resist chiefs’ request to share their food with each other during hunger yet they are not required by law to do so. We then look at how the use of hunger courts have changed over time.

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