Dr. Clapp holds a BA in Economics from the University of Michigan and a MSc and PhD in International Political Economy from the London School of Economics.
Throughout her career, Dr. Clapp’s research has focused on the global governance of problems that arise at the intersection of the global economy, the environment, and food security. In particular, her research has centred on questions of how international economic policies can better foster food security and environmental sustainability goals on a global scale. She takes an interdisciplinary approach to her research, combining insights from political science, international relations, economics, environmental studies and food studies.
Dr. Clapp’s work has been widely recognized. She is a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and recipient of numerous awards, including: the 2012 Award for Excellence in Food Studies Research from the Canadian Association for Food Studies, a 2013 Trudeau Fellowship, the 2018 Innis-Gérin Medal by the Royal Society of Canada (RSC) for her contributions to the social sciences, and the 2018 Distinguished Scholar Award from the Environmental Studies Section of the International Studies Association. She also received the 2014 Award of Excellence in Graduate Supervision at the University of Waterloo.
Dr. Clapp’s current research projects include:
Canada Research Chair in Global Food Security and Sustainability
The challenge of feeding the world’s population is one of the most pressing environmental issues facing humanity. Many current food production methods have negative environmental impacts that endanger not only sustainability but also future food security. Environmental sustainability goals, however, have not yet become central to food security governance arrangements at the international level. This research program will deepen our understanding of the challenges involved in incorporating these goals into international food security governance initiatives. It will be one of the first studies to provide in-depth analysis of the linkages between food security, environmental sustainability, and global governance.
Financialization in the Global Food System
Why and in what ways have financial actors – such as banks and large-scale financial investors – suddenly become so politicized within the global food system? Prior to the 2007-08 food crisis, the role of financial actors in the global food system did not receive much attention from policymakers. This situation suddenly changed when food prices rose dramatically during the crisis, followed by a wave of large-scale land deals and biofuel investments. Many analysts pointed fingers at powerful private financial actors as the key forces driving these trends and the activities of financial actors have now become the target of a number of global governance initiatives aimed at addressing food price volatility, land acquisitions, and biofuels. This project aims to explore the politics of these developments and their implications for the global food system.
Publications
You can access Dr. Clapp's publications through her UWScholar, UWSpace, Academia.edu or Research Gate profiles. You may also contact Jennifer Clapp directly if you are unable to locate a specific publication of interest.