Bokus
Edward Simpson - Political Biography of an Earthquake, Häftad

Häftad, Engelska, 2014

Political Biography of an Earthquake

Aftermath and Amnesia in Gujarat, India

Av Edward Simpson

Del i serien Society and History in the Indian Ocean

331 kr

Beställningsvara. Skickas inom 7-10 vardagar. Fri frakt över 249 kr.

Beskrivning
For those so-minded, the aftermath of an earthquake presents opportunities to intervene. Thus, in Gujarat, following the disaster of 2001, leaders were deposed, proletariats created, religious fundamentalism incubated, the state restructured, and industrial capital- ism expanded exponentially. Rather than gazing in at those struggling in the ruins, as is commonplace in the literature, this book looks out from the affected region at those who came to intervene. Based on extensive research amid the dust and noise of re- construction, the author focuses on the survivors and their interactions with death, history, and with those who came to use the shock of disaster to change the order of things. Edward Simpson takes us deep into the experience of surviving a 'natural' disaster. We see a society in mourning, further alienated by manufactured conditions of uncertainty and absurdity. We witness arguments about the past. What was important? What should be preserved? Was modernisation the cause of the disaster or the antidote? As people were putting things back together, they also knew that future earthquakes were inevitable. How did they learn to live with this terrible truth? How have people in other times and places come to terms with the promise of another earthquake, knowing that things will fall apart again?
Produktinformation
Utforska kategorier
Mer om författaren

Edward Simpson is Senior Lecturer in Social Anthropology at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. He co-edited Struggling With History: Islam and Cosmopolitanism in the Western Indian Ocean, also published by Hurst.

Recensioner i media

'In his Political Biography of an Earthquake - Edward Simpson tries to pull back from the immediate, ephemeral spotlight so typical of journalists, politicians and international humanitarian agencies. - Without reverting to excessive theory, Simpson explores the history of the most affected district of Kutch and investigates the consequences of the relief efforts of 2001. In these efforts, he sees - for good or evil - an underlying neoliberal capitalist agenda, with industrialisation, immigration and environmental degradation accelerated if not caused by the reconstruction efforts. Simpson provocatively suggests the need for an alternative view of "humanitarians" as trespassers, "their actions no longer - so routinely sensible or so morally untouchable". - his many years of research in the region provide important material for reflection beyond the usual focus on local government failure and the need to accelerate foreign help after disasters.'

Betyg & recensioner

0 recensioner

Inga recensioner tillgängliga.