Global Plantations in the Modern World: Sovereignties, Ecologies, Afterlives

This edited book explores the dynamic role of plantations as productive, socio-political, and ecological forms throughout imperial and post-colonial worlds, showcasing an expansive range of case studies across different geographies. It sheds light on the heterogeneity of plantations and offers insights into the afterlives, spectres, and remnants of systems that have been analyzed as schemes of production, extraction, and authority. The contributors explore resistance to the mechanisms of extraction and control that plantations and their afterlives demanded, shedding light on their excesses, contradictions, failures, and deviations.

Format: Hardback
Length: 370 pages
Publication date: 03 February 2023
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

This edited book delves into the multifaceted and global significance of plantations as productive, socio-political, and ecological entities across imperial and post-colonial worlds, spanning diverse temporalities. Through an interdisciplinary lens, it explores the dynamic role of plantations in shaping societies and ecosystems. The collection presents an extensive array of case studies from various geographies, shedding light on the heterogeneity of plantation systems and offering insights into the legacies, specters, and remnants of these systems, which have been analyzed as frameworks of production, extraction, and authority. By focusing on the expansion of plantation systems across various political-economic and ecological projects, both in the modern and post-modern periods, the authors transcend the confines of human-centered analyses, offering a comprehensive treatment of global plantations.

Chapter 1 delves into the historical origins and evolution of plantation systems, tracing their roots in European colonial expansion and their subsequent spread across the world. It examines the various motivations behind plantation establishment, including economic interests, political control, and cultural assimilation. The chapter also highlights the diverse forms that plantations took, including large-scale commercial plantations, small-scale subsistence farms, and labor camps.

Chapter 8 explores the socio-political implications of plantation systems, examining how they facilitated the exercise of power, exploitation, and marginalization. It discusses the ways in which plantations shaped social hierarchies, created labor systems, and perpetuated inequalities. The chapter also examines the resistance and resilience of plantation communities, highlighting their strategies for survival, resistance, and transformation.

Chapter 11 focuses on the ecological consequences of plantation systems, examining their impact on biodiversity, soil health, and water resources. It explores the ways in which plantations altered ecosystems, disrupted natural processes, and contributed to environmental degradation. The chapter also examines the efforts made by plantation communities and environmentalists to mitigate these ecological effects and promote sustainable land management practices.

In conclusion, this edited book provides a comprehensive and insightful examination of the multifaceted and global significance of plantations as productive, socio-political, and ecological entities. It offers valuable insights into the legacies, specters, and remnants of plantation systems, shedding light on their complex and enduring impacts on societies and ecosystems. The book is a valuable resource for researchers, scholars, and activists interested in the socio-political and environmental effects of colonialism and imperialism in their various guises.

Weight: 642g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031085369
Edition number: 1st ed. 2023