Suburban Empire: Cold War Militarization in the US Pacific

Suburban Empire explores how the US military controlled the Marshall Islands and how the displacement of indigenous Marshallese people mirrors the segregation and spatial politics of the mainland US. It reveals that Cold War-era suburbanization was congruent with US colonization, military testing, and nuclear fallout, cloaking the destructive history of control and militarism under a veil of small-town innocence.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 386 pages
Publication date: 01 June 2022
Publisher: University of California Press

Suburban Empire transports readers to the United States missile base located at Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands, a pivotal hub of postwar US imperial expansion, the Cold War nuclear arms race, and the global waves of anti-colonial movements. Through meticulous research, Hirshberg demonstrates that the displacement of indigenous Marshallese within Kwajalein Atoll reflects the segregation and spatial politics of the mainland US, as local and global iterations of the US empire took hold. By tracing the navigation of Marshall Islanders amidst US military control over their lands, Suburban Empire unveils the striking congruence between Cold War-era suburbanization and US colonization, military testing, and nuclear fallout. The architectural structures of suburban segregation cleverly concealed the destructive legacy of control and militarism beneath the façade of small-town innocence.

Suburban Empire: The US Missile Base at Kwajalein Atoll

In the Marshall Islands, nestled within the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean, lies the US missile base at Kwajalein Atoll. This strategic location, at the crossroads of postwar US imperial expansion, the Cold War nuclear arms race, and the global tides of anti-colonial struggles, holds a profound significance in understanding the complex dynamics of power and control. Author Michael Hirshberg delves into the intricate tapestry of this remote island paradise, shedding light on the displacement of indigenous Marshallese and the eerie parallels between the segregation and spatial politics of the mainland US and the Kwajalein Atoll.

Hirshberg's meticulously researched book, Suburban Empire, takes readers on a captivating journey through the history and politics of this remote US outpost. He reveals how the displacement of indigenous Marshallese within Kwajalein Atoll mirrors the segregation and spatial politics of the mainland US. As local and global iterations of the US empire took hold, the island's indigenous population faced the harsh realities of displacement, marginalization, and cultural erasure. The structures of suburban segregation, reminiscent of those found in the United States, cloaked the destructive history of control and militarism under a veil of small-town innocence.

The book explores the intricate relationship between US military control over the Marshall Islands and the broader context of Cold War-era suburbanization. Hirshberg demonstrates how the expansion of the US missile base at Kwajalein Atoll was perfectly congruent with US colonization, military testing, and nuclear fallout. The island became a testing ground for nuclear weapons, with the Marshallese people subjected to the harmful effects of radiation and contamination. The suburbanization of Kwajalein Atoll, characterized by the construction of housing complexes and the influx of military personnel, further exacerbated the isolation and marginalization of the indigenous population.

Suburban Empire sheds light on the complex interplay between power, colonization, and the everyday lives of individuals caught in the crosshairs of global events. Through the stories of the Marshallese people and their struggles against displacement and militarism, the book offers a poignant reflection on the enduring legacies of imperialism and the ongoing struggles for self-determination and cultural preservation.

In conclusion, Suburban Empire is a groundbreaking work that delves into the hidden histories and untold stories of Kwajalein Atoll. Through meticulous research and compelling storytelling, author Michael Hirshberg provides a powerful lens through which to examine the intersection of power, colonization, and the human experience. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complex dynamics of global politics and the ongoing struggles for justice and equality.

Weight: 544g
Dimension: 229 x 152 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520289161