Food First(pre-World War II) Second(1950s-1970s) Tradition to Third (1980s-1990s)

Regime
Principal Culmination of colonialism Extension of state system to former Contradictions between productive
Tendencies Rise of nation-state system colonies forces and consumption trends,
Transnational restructuring of Disintegration of national agro-food
agricultural sectors by agro-food capitals capitals
Governing Acceptability of alien rule Respect for free international markets Multi-polarity of power(eg. US, EC,
Premises Propriety of accumulation domain and free enterprise Japan), Global transmission of
Importance of balancing power National observation of adjustment adjustments, Rise of new
Legitimacy of neo-mercantilism imposed by international markets protectionism,Retreat from distributional
Non-interference in others’ Qualified acceptance of extra market issues, Restricted flow of technological
colonial administration channels of food distribution information, Renewed interest in
Avoidance of starvation national self-reliance
Free flow of scientific and crop
information
Low priority for national self-reliance
National soveriegnity
Low concern about chronic hunger
Main Centered on European imports of Based on strong state protection and Crises in world agricultural trade,
Historical wheat and meat from settler states organization of world food economy featuring price instability, breakdown in
Features bewtween 1910 and 1914 and under US hegemony after 1945 multilateral agreements, increased
imports by settler states of competition in export markets and
European manufactured goods, limited imposition of structural
labour and capital adjustment policies.
Main Imperial preference, with vertical Bretton Woods Agreement, GATT, Post- Attempts to resolve world agricultural
Internation hierarchical relations war reonstruction programs, trade issues through GATT framework
al Policy multilateralism
Nondiscrimination and legal approach to
regulation
Commodity agreements and convections
US management of international
agricultural trade system via agenda
setting in international negotiations
Main Assistance for land settlement and Cheap food policies, Credit expansion, Opposing trends of further protection
National infrastructure Production control mechanisms, Market and deregulation of agricultural sector
Policy creation via concessionary export sales
Features: and food aid

The Characteristics of the Three Food Regimes (Le Heron, 1993)

The Characteristics of the Three Food Regimes (Le Heron,1993)
A) The First( Pre-World War II)
1. Principal Tendencies:
Culmination of colonialism
Rise of nation-state system

2. Governing Premises:
Acceptability of alien rule
Propriety of accumulation domain
Importance of balancing power
Legitimacy of neo-mercantilism
Non-interference in others’ colonial administration

3. Main Historical Features:

Centered on European imports of wheat and meat from settler states bewtween 1910 and 1914
and imports by settler states of European manufactured goods, labour and capital

4. Main International Policy Features:

Imperial preference, with vertical hierarchical relations

5. Main National Policy Features:

Assistance for land settlement and infrastructure
B) the Second Food Regime
1. Principal Tendencies:
Extension of state system to former colonies
Transnational restructuring of agricultural sectors by agro-food capitals
2. Governing Premises:
Respect for free international markets and free enterprise
National observation of adjustment imposed by international markets
Qualified acceptance of extra market channels of food distribution
Avoidance of starvation
Free flow of scientific and crop information
Low priority for national self-reliance
National soveriegnity
Low concern about chronic hunger
3. Main Historical Features:
Based on strong state protection and organization of world food economy under US hegemony
after 1945
4. Main International Policy Features:
Bretton Woods Agreement, GATT, Post-war reonstruction programs, multilateralism
Nondiscrimination and legal approach to regulation
Commodity agreements and convections
US management of international agricultural trade system via agenda setting in international negotiations
5. Main National Policy Features:
Cheap food policies, Credit expansion, Production control mechanisms, Market creation via
concessionary export sales and food aid
C) Transition To Third (1980s – 1990s)
1. Principal Tendencies:
Contradictions between productive forces and consumption trends,
Disintegration of national agro-food capitals
2. Governing Premises:
Multi-polarity of power(eg. US, EC, Japan), Global transmission of adjustments, Rise of new
protectionism,Retreat from distributional issues, Restricted flow of technological information,
Renewed interest in national self-reliance
3. Main Historical Features:
Crises in world agricultural trade, featuring price instability, breakdown in multilateral agreements,
increased competition in export markets and limited imposition of structural adjustment policies.
4. Main International Policy Features:
Attempts to resolve world agricultural trade issues through GATT framework
5. Main National Policy Features:
Opposing trends of further protection and deregulation of agricultural sector