[GSlob]

I see a minor difference between a natural crop blight and forcible removal and destruction of foodstuffs from large areas by malevolent state agency. The latter did happen in Ukraine and other places, but I was not aware of it happening in Ireland potato famine. It routinely happened in medieval warfare, though, and even later, in Thirty Years war.

[Bahbah]

but I was not aware of it happening in Ireland potato famine.

My understanding is that food was available in England that could have alleviated the starvation, but that shipping it to Ireland was blocked. I could be wrong, that is just a recollection. It is true that is is different in that the blight was not planned as an effort to kill large numbers of people.

[Freebird Forever]

forcible removal and destruction of foodstuffs from large areas by malevolent state agency. ... but I was not aware of it happening in Ireland potato famine.

Irish grains were not harmed by the blight. Most of them were sold and exported to England to cover the rent on farmland. The landowners presented the peasants with the option of giving up their grain or being evicted.

[spinestein]

[It routinely happened in medieval warfare, though, and even later, in Thirty Years war.]


Genocide by starvation also occurred in the Soviet Union, and more recently in Somalia and Ethiopia, and even at this moment, in Sudan.

It's actually quite common for tyrannical governments to do this, because it's a good way to wash your hands of responsibility.