Japan's Ocean Borderlands: Nature and Sovereignty

Desert islands in East Asia are sites of nature conservation and intense geopolitical tensions. Paul Kreitman's study explores how bird islands have transformed from sites of resource extraction to outposts of empire and nature reserves, shaping ongoing claims to sovereignty over oceanic spaces. It examines the history of desert islands, imperial and post-imperial power, the web of political, economic, and ecological connections between islands and oceans, and the relationship between sovereignty, territory, and environment in the modern world.

Format: Hardback
Length: 300 pages
Publication date: 31 July 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

East Asia is currently experiencing significant geopolitical tensions centered around desert islands, but these islands are also important conservation areas. In this comprehensive examination of global environmental history, Paul Kreitman explores the intricate relationship between the politics of conservation and sovereignty since the emergence of the modern Japanese state in the mid-nineteenth century. Through a series of case studies, ranging from Hawaii to the Bonin Islands, the Senkaku (Ch: Diaoyu) Isles, and the South China Sea, he delves into how bird islands located at the distant margins of the Japanese archipelago and beyond have transitioned from being sites of resource extraction to outposts of empire, from wartime battlegrounds to nature reserves.

This study investigates how interactions between birds, bird products, bureaucrats, speculators, sailors, soldiers, scientists, and conservationists have shaped ongoing claims to sovereignty over oceanic spaces. It examines the historical significance of desert islands in revealing the dynamics of imperial and post-imperial power, the complex web of political, economic, and ecological connections between islands and oceans, and the intricate relationship between sovereignty, territory, and the environment in the modern world.

By examining these case studies, Kreitman sheds light on the complex interplay between conservation efforts, geopolitical rivalries, and the broader global context, offering valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities facing these fragile ecosystems and the nations that claim them.

Weight: 586g
Dimension: 157 x 236 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108489706