Late Victorian Holocausts: El Nino Famines and the Making of the Third World

Paperback, 470 pages

English language

Published July 8, 2001 by Verso.

ISBN:: 978-1-85984-382-6

Late Victorian Holocausts: El Niño Famines and the Making of the Third World is a book by Mike Davis about the connection between political economy and global climate patterns, particularly El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). By comparing ENSO episodes in different time periods and across countries, Davis explores the impact of colonialism and the introduction of capitalism, and the relation with famine in particular. Davis argues that "Millions died, not outside the 'modern world system', but in the very process of being forcibly incorporated into its economic and political structures. They died in the golden age of Liberal Capitalism; indeed, many were murdered ... by the theological application of the sacred principles of Smith, Bentham and Mill." The book won the World History Association Book Prize in 2002.Davis characterizes the Indian famines which took place under colonial rule as a "genocide". Some scholars, including Niall Ferguson, have disputed this judgment, while …

Late Victorian Holocausts: El Niño Famines and the Making of the Third World is a book by Mike Davis about the connection between political economy and global climate patterns, particularly El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). By comparing ENSO episodes in different time periods and across countries, Davis explores the impact of colonialism and the introduction of capitalism, and the relation with famine in particular. Davis argues that "Millions died, not outside the 'modern world system', but in the very process of being forcibly incorporated into its economic and political structures. They died in the golden age of Liberal Capitalism; indeed, many were murdered ... by the theological application of the sacred principles of Smith, Bentham and Mill." The book won the World History Association Book Prize in 2002.Davis characterizes the Indian famines which took place under colonial rule as a "genocide". Some scholars, including Niall Ferguson, have disputed this judgment, while others, including Adam Jones, have affirmed it.

2 editions

Lucas reviewed Late Victorian Holocausts: El Nino Famines and the Making of the Third World by Mike Davis

Harrowing, multidisciplinary, thorough--better with maps than as audiobook

4 stars

A harrowing survey of suffering and human-led disaster. Argues that these years of famine more or less initiated what became known as the Third World; like most all famines, were a confluence of bad circumstances in which humans had a the means, opportunity, and moral capacity to greatly reduce death and suffering—but didn't, in large part because those who could were dedicated instead to empire and capital. Fascinating argument that spans economics, ecology, climate, culture, and so much more; thoroughly researched and presented.

Not great to hear as an audiobook as I had to pause and look up maps (and do so by guessing at how regions are spelled). Not knowing Indian, Chinese, Brazilian, and East African geography well sure made this harder than I expect it would’ve been in print, with maps (presumably).

A harrowing survey of suffering and human-led disaster. Argues that these years of famine more or less initiated what became known as the Third World; like most all famines, were a confluence of bad circumstances in which humans had a the means, opportunity, and moral capacity to greatly reduce death and suffering—but didn't, in large part because those who could were dedicated instead to empire and capital. Fascinating argument that spans economics, ecology, climate, culture, and so much more; thoroughly researched and presented.

Not great to hear as an audiobook as I had to pause and look up maps (and do so by guessing at how regions are spelled). Not knowing Indian, Chinese, Brazilian, and East African geography well sure made this harder than I expect it would’ve been in print, with maps (presumably).

Subjects

Environmental impact of natural disasters & phenomena
Famine
Human rights
Social history
World history: c 1750 to c 1900
c 1800 to c 1900
History: World
History
History - General History
Developing countries
General
Modern - 19th Century
Modern - General