The political economy of food insecurity: How the Russian Ukraine conflict reconfigured global grain routes

The Russia‑Ukraine conflict disrupted two of the world’s largest grain exporters, exposed the fragility of global food supply chains, and intensified food insecurity across many low‑income countries. This article uses World Systems theory to interpret how the conflict reconfigured global grain routes between 2018 and 2023. A mixed‑method design joins quantitative trade and price data with qualitative policy analysis. Results reveal steep declines in exports from Ukraine and partial redirection of trade toward new core‑controlled routes in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. The political responses of importing states and international organizations show how the conflict reinforced structural inequalities in world agriculture. The study concludes that the post‑2022 food landscape remains shaped by the hierarchy of core, semi‑periphery, and periphery nations that defines the global economy.