On Arid Ground: Political Ecologies of Empire in Russian Central Asia

On Arid Ground explores the relationships between empire and environment in Central Asia, using environmental history to examine Russian imperialism in Turkestan from the 1860s to 1916. It reveals the environmental imprint of Russian colonization, infrastructure development, migrant settlement, land reclamation, commodification of nature, and environmental violence. The volume argues for looking beyond cotton and water and emphasizes the material role of animals, plants, sand, silt, and salt in human histories.

Format: Hardback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 14 April 2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press

On Arid Ground is a groundbreaking work that delves into the intricate connections between empire and environment in Central Asia. By employing the lens of environmental history, the book offers a comprehensive examination of Russian imperialism in Turkestan, spanning from the 1860s to 1916. Through meticulous research and analysis, it sheds light on the profound environmental impact of Russian colonization, revealing how local ecologies intertwined with broader frameworks of imperial rule, accommodation, and resistance.

Spanning a vast geographical range, from the arid deserts of Transcaspia to the rugged highlands and fertile lowlands of rural Fergana and Semirech e, Jennifer Keating explores a wide array of topics. These include infrastructure development, migrant settlement, land reclamation and dispossession, the commodification of nature, and environmental violence. By examining these diverse aspects, the book uncovers the central role that ecological change played in the formation and collapse of empires.

Keating's work is notable for its attention to connections, synchronicities, and scale. She argues that Central Asia cannot be understood solely through the lens of cotton and water, emphasizing the significant material role played by animals, plants, sand, silt, and salt in human histories. She also highlights the less visible relationships between far-flung people and things within and beyond Turkestan's borders. By laying bare the political roots and repercussions of environmental change, On Arid Ground offers fresh perspectives on the history of Central Asia and the broader Russian empire across Eurasia.

This book is a valuable addition to the field of environmental history, providing a nuanced and empirically grounded understanding of the complex interplay between empire and environment in Central Asia. It challenges traditional narratives and sheds light on the often overlooked role of nature in shaping human societies.

Weight: 612g
Dimension: 240 x 164 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780192855251