Liveblogging Mike Davis's book "Late Victorian Holocausts"

[bulby01]

I just started reading this book, and I'm a few pages into the Preface.

Why don't I liveblog it.

(Note for those people who are new to my blog: I openly and freely make statements of political opinion and lots of other things.)

From the Acknowledgements:

...Nancy Peluso......well, I see whose family isn't naming their children "Nancy" for a

Comments

Good idea.... some first thoughts on the book

[anonymous]

I have only read to page 100 until now.... the key statements Mike Davis wants to support in this book seem to be:

1. The forceful (and "mis-managed") integration of formerly decentralized agrarian societies into global trade exacerbated the effects of draughts caused by a very severe climatic event: "Millions died not outside the "modern world system", but in the very process of being forcibly integrated into its economic and political structures", p.9

2. The suffering and weakness in consequence of the ENSO induced catastrophe was exploited by colonists, imperialists and missionaries. Chapter 3: "Gunboats and Messiahs".

3. The present day gap between the developed and the developing world can partly be traced to the late 19th century catastrophes.

All very interesting... what do you think?