Floating Coast: An Environmental History of the Bering Strait

Bathsheba Demuth explores the impact of modern ideologies of production and consumption, capitalism, and communism on the ecosystem along the Bering Strait, Alaska, and Russia, highlighting the urgent need for environmental sustainability in a warming climate.

Format: Hardback
Length: 416 pages
Publication date: 17 September 2019
Publisher: WW Norton & Co

Along the Bering Strait, spanning the territories of the Inupiat and Yupik in Alaska, and the Yupik and Chukchi in Russia, Bathsheba Demuth delves into an ecosystem that has long supported human existence. However, when Americans and Europeans arrived, the region became the stage for an experiment, subjecting the modern ideologies of production and consumption, capitalism, and communism to the constraints of arctic scarcity.

Demuth paints a captivating picture of the profound consequences of transforming ecological wealth into economic growth and state power over the past century and a half. In a warming climate and as we embark on the search for new economic ideas for a post-industrial era, Floating Coast serves as a timely warning, raising thought-provoking questions about human desires and needs in relation to environmental sustainability.

The book explores the intricate interplay between human societies, the environment, and the economic systems that have shaped the Arctic region. It sheds light on the historical processes that have led to the current state of affairs, including the colonization of indigenous peoples, the extraction of natural resources, and the development of infrastructure.

Through her research, Demuth highlights the ways in which environmental degradation and resource extraction have impacted the lives of indigenous communities. She argues that the pursuit of economic growth and state power has often come at the expense of the well-being and cultural heritage of these communities.

Floating Coast also raises important questions about the future of the Arctic region. As the climate continues to warm, the region is experiencing significant changes in its ecosystems, including the melting of ice and the loss of biodiversity. These changes have the potential to have far-reaching consequences for human societies, including food security, water availability, and climate resilience.

The book offers a range of solutions and strategies for addressing these challenges. Demuth advocates for a more sustainable and equitable approach to resource management, including the recognition of indigenous rights and the promotion of renewable energy sources. She also calls for a shift in our economic systems, away from short-term profit-driven practices and towards a more circular and sustainable model.

Floating Coast is a thought-provoking and important book that sheds light on the complex relationship between human societies, the environment, and the economic systems that have shaped our world. It is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the challenges and opportunities facing the Arctic region and the broader global community.

Weight: 744g
Dimension: 165 x 242 x 34 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780393635164