ARTICLE I. PURPOSE

1.a The aims of the Working Group on Famine and Society WG05 of the International Sociological Association are to explore and develop a systematic study of societies within which starvation affects social political and economic institutions and brings about economic and social decline and adverse biological and cultural consequences, to large communities.

1.b To examine critically the definitions in the social sciences of famine which recognise the presence of famine primarily with reference to indicators of disease, mortality and demographic change and look upon famine as a sudden collapse

1.c To promote the study of famine as a social process rather than as a isolated event and to investigate the social economic and political characteristics for the study of famine in all its aspects.

These aims finalised by the Board at its meeting on Jan 31 1987 were published as an appendix to the proceedings of the Intercongress meeting of 1988. Members of Famine and Society, by convention are signatories of the Statement of Purpose.

2. The scope of activities of the Group were widened during the Congresses of ,1994 (Bielefeld ) 1996 New Delhi to include the study of poverty and marginalisation. It was agreed that rather than examining a static concept of poverty it was necessary to perceive it in association with an active process of marginalisation impoverishment and destitution.

ARTICLE II. ACTIVITIES

To fulfil its aims ,the Working Group organises international conferences, seminars promotes research publishes newsletter, proceedings

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP

Membership is open to all members of national and international societies in the Social Sciences . No membership fees are collected at present

ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS

Officers :These include a President Vice President and an Executive Board

ARTICLE V. ELECTIONS

Officers are elected during the Congress and Inter congress meetings.