Ecology and Empire: Environmental History of Settler Societies

by Tom Griffiths (Editor), Libby Robin (Editor)

Overview

Ecology and Empire examines the relationship between the expansion of empire and the environmental experience of the extra-European world. For the first time it moves the debate beyond the North American frontier by comparing the experience of settler societies in Australia, South Africa and Latin America. From Australian water management and the crisis of deforestation in Latin America, to beef farming in the Transvaal, this topical book provides a broad comparative historical approach to the impact of humanity on the ecological systems on which settler societies base their livelihood.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780295997704
Publisher:	University of Washington Press
Publication date:	08/24/2017
Pages:	258
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.30(h) x 0.90(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Tom Griffiths is Fellow in the History Program, Research School of Social Sciences, Australian National University

Libby Robin is Australian Research Council Postdoctoral Fellow at the Humanities Research Centre, Australian National University

Editorial Reviews

A comparative environmental history using Australia as a case study. The 15 contributions also look at the US, South Africa, and Latin America in their exploration of environmental change as an unexplored aspect of colonialism. Specific topics include ecology and environmentalism in the Anglo settler colonies, water management in Australia, progressive heroes on Australia's ecological frontiers, and the Transvaal beef frontier as a locale for the discussion of markets and the ideology of development. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Booknews

In this important compilation of new work, Tom Griffiths and Libby Robin reflect on the nature of ecology and empire - combining the essences, as Griffith puts it, of power and innocence...The book sets itself apart from the typically self-regarding US tradition in environmental history by insisting on presenting environmental history on a regional and global comparative scale. 'Think locally, but act globally' becomes more than a bumper sticker in their capable hands. This text, already a primer in its field, will help anyone wishing to take up the task.

From the Publisher