Cet-4-1.8-Exercise 02C) As demand for food rises faster than supplies are growing, the resulting food-price inflation puts severe stress on the governments of many countries. Unable to buy grain or grow their own, hungry people take to the streets. Indeed, even before the steep climb in grain prices in 2008, the number of failing states was expanding. If the food situation continues to worsen, entire nations will break down at an ever increasing rate. In the 20th century the main threat to international security was superpower conflict; today it is failing states.

A. Increasing water shortages prove to be the biggest obstacle to boosting the world’s grain production.
B. Rather than superpower conflict, countries unable to cope with food shortages now constitute the main threat to world security.