Why Food Is Deeply Political

We’ve seen how many regions around the world still suffer from hunger despite there technically being enough food to feed everyone globally. We also see how food like pork or beef is sometimes weaponised in the culture wars to sow division between communities.

Dr Elaine Pratley is a peacebuilder who does interfaith and intercultural dialogue. whose work explores how something as simple as food can be deeply political. Her thesis, Hungry for Peace, examines the ways food practices and food insecurity are tied to questions of power, identity, and belonging. She’s also the founder of Peace Kitchen, an initiative that brings people together over shared meals to spark dialogue and connection.

In this episode, we chat with Dr Pratley about how food can both heal and divide communities, and why tackling hunger isn’t just about filling stomachs but about challenging the systems of inequality and marginalisation that determine who gets a seat at the proverbial dining table.

Elaine will be speaking at ZafigoX 2025 Women's Festival, taking place on 11–12 October 2025 at Menara KEN TTDI, Kuala Lumpur. For more information, do check out the website zafigo.com

Image credit: Hungry for Peace

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