Food Deserts, Capabilities, and the Rectification of Democratic Failure

TLDR: This paper argued that the perpetuation of food deserts also constitutes a breakdown specifically of functional democracy and that this breakdown is best addressed by implementing programs and policies that reflect Sen's capabilities approach to justice.

Abstract: Food deserts include any area in the industrialized world in which reasonably priced, nutritious food is difficult to obtain. They constitute a pressing public health concern insofar as food desert inhabitants disproportionately suffer from a variety of diet-related conditions. Amartya Sen has written extensively about famine as a failure of functional governance. I draw on these considerations to defend two claims. First, the perpetuation of food deserts also constitutes a breakdown specifically of functional democracy. Second, this breakdown is best addressed by implementing programs and policies that reflect Sen's capabilities approach to justice. I challenge the proposition that resourcism or any other competing approach is preferable for this particular undertaking.