Since the 2007/08 food price crisis there has been a proliferation of multi-stakeholder processes (MSPs) devoted to bringing diverse perspectives together to inform and improve food security policy. While much of the literature highlights the positive contributions to be gained from an opening-up of traditionally state-led processes, there is a strong critique emerging to show that, in many instances, MSPs have de-politicizing effects. In this paper, we scrutinize MSPs in relation to de-politicization. We argue that re-building sustainable and just food systems requires alternative visions that can best be made visible through politicized policy processes. Focusing on three key conditions of politicization, we examine the UN Committee on World Food Security as a MSP where we see a process of politicization playing out through the endorsement of the ‘most-affected’ principle, which is in turn being actively contested by traditionally powerful actors. We conclude that there is a need to implement and reinforce mechanisms that deliberately politicize participation in MSPs, notably by clearly distinguishing between states and other stakeholders, as well as between categories of non-state actors.

中文翻译：

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通过参与将粮食安全治理政治化：机遇与反对

自 2007/08 年粮食价格危机以来，多方利益相关者进程 (MSP) 激增，致力于将不同观点汇集在一起​​，以告知和改进粮食安全政策。虽然大部分文献都强调了开放传统国家主导的进程所带来的积极贡献，但也出现了强烈的批评，表明在许多情况下，多边合作伙伴关系具有去政治化的效果。在本文中，我们仔细审查了与去政治化相关的 MSP。我们认为，重建可持续和公正的粮食系统需要另类愿景，而这些愿景可以通过政治化的政策过程最好地体现出来。聚焦政治化的三个关键条件，我们将联合国世界粮食安全委员会视为一个 MSP，在该委员会中，我们看到了通过认可“最受影响”原则而进行的政治化进程，而传统上强大的参与者又积极反对这一原则。我们的结论是，有必要实施和加强有意将 MSP 参与政治化的机制，特别是通过明确区分国家和其他利益相关者以及非国家行为者类别。