Insanity, Identity and Empire: Immigrants and Institutional Confinement in Australia and New Zealand, 1873-1910

Insanity, Identity, and Empire explores how colonial social identities were formed in Australia and New Zealand's insane asylums, focusing on gender, ethnicity, and class. It examines the stories of mobility, how they were told, and how colonial identities were asserted and formed.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 29 June 2021
Publisher: Manchester University Press

Insanity, Identity, and Empire delves into the intricate formation of colonial social identities within the confines of mental institutions in Australia and New Zealand. Drawing upon a substantial collection of patient records, the book emphasizes the significance of gender, ethnicity, and class as analytical categories, shedding light on the diverse journeys of immigrants to the colonies and the varied destinations they reached within the social institutions of the period. It explores the narratives of mobility experienced by these individuals, the ways in which these stories were constructed and disseminated within the asylum system, and the ways in which colonial identities were asserted and shaped through these narratives. By engaging with the structural demands of empire and the multifaceted imperial meanings of gender, sexuality, and medicine, historians have examined the movements of travelers, migrants, military bodies, and medical personnel, as well as the concept of 'transnational lives.' This book also takes a broader perspective, examining an empire-wide discourse of 'madness' as part of this inquiry.

Introduction:
Insanity, Identity, and Empire explores the complex interplay between mental institutions, colonialism, and the construction of social identities in Australia and New Zealand. By examining a large sample of patient records, the book sheds light on the experiences of individuals who were labeled as insane and the ways in which these experiences shaped their sense of self and their place in the colonial world.

Gender, Ethnicity, and Class as Categories of Analysis:
The book pays particular attention to gender, ethnicity, and class as categories of analysis, recognizing the diverse journeys of immigrants to the colonies and the various reasons why they ended up in mental institutions. It reminds us of the complex and multifaceted nature of colonial identities and the ways in which they were shaped by a range of factors, including race, religion, and economic status.

Narratives of Mobility:
The book delves into the narratives of mobility experienced by individuals who were labeled as insane. It explores the ways in which these individuals moved across borders, both physically and metaphorically, as they sought treatment and support in different parts of the empire. It also examines the ways in which these movements were shaped by the structural imperatives of empire, including the demands of colonial administration, the expansion of trade, and the spread of disease.

Asylum System as a Site of Colonial Power:
The asylum system in Australia and New Zealand was a site of colonial power and control. It was used to manage and regulate the behavior of colonial subjects, particularly those who were considered to be a threat to social order or who were seen as deviant or abnormal. The book explores the ways in which the asylum system was used to assert and reinforce colonial authority, as well as the ways in which it was contested and resisted by patients and their families.

Discourse of Madness:
The book also examines an empire-wide discourse of 'madness' as part of this inquiry. It explores the ways in which the concept of madness was used to justify colonialism, to control the behavior of colonial subjects, and to maintain the authority. It also examines the ways in which this discourse was challenged and subverted by patients and their families, as well as by medical professionals and intellectuals who sought to understand the complexities of mental illness and its impact on individuals and society.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, Insanity, Identity, and Empire provides a rich and nuanced analysis of the formation of colonial social identities within the institutions for the insane in Australia and New Zealand. By examining the experiences of individuals who were labeled as insane, the book sheds light on the complex and multifaceted nature of colonial identities and the ways in which they were shaped by a range of factors, including gender, ethnicity, class, and empire. It also highlights the ways in which the asylum system was used as a site of colonial power and control, and the ways in which it was contested and resisted by patients and their families. The book contributes to our understanding of the history of mental illness, colonialism, and the construction of social identities in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Weight: 362g
Dimension: 155 x 232 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526156310