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Famine as genocide? Ukraine and Ireland

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  • Kennedy, Liam

Abstract

The Great Irish Famine, 1846-50, and the Great Ukrainian Famine, 1932-33 are searing episodes in the history of the two countries. On some estimates, the relative intensity of famine in the two societies was broadly the same, with famine conditions claiming the lives of one-in-eight of the population. But on closer examination it is the dissimilarities between the two episodes that dominate. The politics and ideology shaping reaction to the emerging catastrophes in the two societies were hugely contrasting. The intent of policy in the Irish case, however inadequate some of the relief measures, was to save lives. Suspicion of the peasantry (not only in Ukraine), the extraction of grain surpluses and the unleashing of state terror against "class enemies" took precedence over saving lives in the Soviet handling of the Ukrainian famine. Paradoxically, it is the collective memory of famine and its politicisation that brings the Irish and Ukrainian calamities into closer relationship with each other.

Suggested Citation

  • Kennedy, Liam, 2022. "Famine as genocide? Ukraine and Ireland," QUCEH Working Paper Series 22-03, Queen's University Belfast, Queen's University Centre for Economic History.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:qucehw:202203
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Naumenko, Natalya, 2021. "The Political Economy of Famine: The Ukrainian Famine of 1933," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 81(1), pages 156-197, March.
    2. Charles Read, 2016. "Laissez-faire, the Irish famine, and British financial crisis," Economic History Review, Economic History Society, vol. 69(2), pages 411-434, May.
    3. C. N. Ward-Perkins, 1950. "The Commercial Crisis Of 1847," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 2(1), pages 75-94.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Great Irish Famine (1846-50); Great Ukrainian Famine (1932-33);

    JEL classification:

    • N43 - Economic History - - Government, War, Law, International Relations, and Regulation - - - Europe: Pre-1913
    • N44 - Economic History - - Government, War, Law, International Relations, and Regulation - - - Europe: 1913-
    • H53 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Government Expenditures and Welfare Programs
    • N54 - Economic History - - Agriculture, Natural Resources, Environment and Extractive Industries - - - Europe: 1913-

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