Former Visiting Fellow Amy Erica Smith wrote an article for Vox about the relationship between style of governance and food security, with regard to the humanitarian crisis and political turmoil in Venezuela.  She asserts that famine is far less likely in democratic nations because free media, competition for leadership, and options for peaceful transitions of power hold leaders accountable for taking care of their citizens.  Smith writes that authoritarian leaders are more likely to ignore widespread starvation, and "A regime such as Maduro’s administration might actually weaponize hunger to stay in power."