Głód jako narzędzie polityczne – potencjał wykorzystania przez władze reżimów totalitarnych
Famine as a political tool – the potential for use by the authorities of totalitarian regimes

Summary/Abstract: The phenomenon of long-term malnutrition has very serious physiological and psycho-social effects. In addition to impairing the immune system and physically weakening the body, starvation causes aggression, apathy and alienation of individuals. Famine-affected communities are atomised and individuals functioning within them are incapable of building interpersonal relationships. Given the consequences that the phenomenon of hunger causes for individuals and communities, it can be a political tool used by the authorities of totalitarian regimes. The paper presents experiments showing the physiological and psycho-social consequences of hunger sickness and then juxtaposes their results with socio-anthropological concepts of totalitarianism. On the basis of the analysis conducted in the paper, it is shown that there is a significant correlation between the social consequences of hunger and the social character of totalitarianism. Drawing on these considerations, the paper identifies areas where hunger can be used as a political tool by the authorities of non-democratic states.

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