American Colonial Spaces in the Philippines: Insular Empire

American Colonial Spaces in the Philippines explores how U.S. colonialists attempted to establish an enduring American empire in the Philippines through the production of space in the early twentieth century. It traces the efforts of U.S. Insular Government agents to make space for empire through territory, maps, landscape, and roads, and how these spaces were understood as solutions to problems of colonial rule. The book offers an original history of a transformative but forgotten imperial moment when the Philippine archipelago became the primary setting for U.S. experimentation with formal colonial governance.

Format: Hardback
Length: 174 pages
Publication date: 15 February 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

American Colonial Spaces in the Philippines delves into the captivating tale of U.S. colonialists who, in the early 20th century, ambitiously sought to establish an enduring American empire in the Philippines. Their mission? To achieve this through the creation of space. This comprehensive book explores a range of concrete interventions, from infrastructural developments to urban planning and the shaping of built environments. It also delves into more abstract projects, such as mapping and territorialization, as the U.S. Insular Government agents strove to carve out spaces for empire in the Philippines. These spaces, encompassing territory, maps, landscapes, and roads, were perceived as solutions to the challenges of colonial rule.

By examining these spaces, the book offers an innovative historical perspective on a transformative yet often overlooked imperial era. The Philippine archipelago, comprising thousands of islands and a diverse population of over seven million, became the unexpected stage for U.S. experimentation with formal colonial governance. Through the lens of space, the book presents a unique narrative, shedding light on this largely misunderstood or forgotten chapter in history. Key figures such as Cameron Forbes, Daniel Burnham, Dean Worcester, and William Howard Taft play pivotal roles in this story, and the book offers insightful chapters dedicated to spaces of territory (sovereignty), maps (knowledge), landscapes (aesthetics), and roads (circulation). These chapters propose new and integrative historical geographical approaches, making it of interest to students and scholars in Cultural, Historical, and Political Geography, American History, American Studies, Philippine Studies, Southeast Asia/Philippines; Asian Studies, as well as general readers with a passion for these fields.

Weight: 500g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367361808