The Long Shadows: A Global Environmental History of the Second World War

by Simo Laakkonen (Editor), Richard Tucker (Editor), Timo Vuorisalo (Editor)

Overview

The Long Shadows is the first book-length work to offer global perspectives on the environmental history of World War II. Based on long-term research, the selected articles represent the best available studies in different fields and countries. With contributions touching on Europe, America, Asia, and Africa, the book has a truly global approach.

While other edited volumes on the environmental history of warfare discuss multiple wars and various time periods, The Long Shadows is devoted exclusively to World War II and its profound and lasting impact on global environments, encompassing polar, temperate and tropical ecological zones. Divided into three main sections, the first offers an introduction to and holistic overview of the War. The second section of the book examines the social and environmental impacts of the conflict, while the third focuses on the history and legacy of resource extraction. A fourth and final section offers conclusions and hypotheses. Numerous themes and topics are explored in these previously unpublished essays, including the new and innovative field of acoustic ecology, the environmental policies of the Third Reich, Japanese imperialism and marine resources, and the control of Typhus fever.

Aimed at researchers and students in the fields of environmental history, military history, and global history, The Long Shadows will also appeal to a general audience interested in the environmental impact of the greatest military conflict in the history of the world.

CONTRIBUTORS
 
Outi Ampuja
Alla Bolotova
Chris Boyer
Matthew Evenden
Paul Josephson
Simo Laakkonen
Helene Laurent
Carol MacLennan
Gregory Maddox                                                                                              
Ilmo Massa
Evan Mawdsley
Micah Muscolino
William Tsutsui
Richard Tucker           
Timo Vuorisalo            
Anna-Katharina Wöbse

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780870718793
Publisher:	Oregon State University Press
Publication date:	04/15/2017
Edition description:	1
Pages:	400
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.80(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	3 Months to 18 Years

About the Author

Simo Laakkonen and Timo Vuorisale are Senior Lecturers at the University of Turku, Finland.Richard Tucker is Adjunct Professor in the School of Natural Resources, University of Michigan.

Table of Contents

Foreword John R. McNeill vii

Acknowledgments ix

List of Illustrations xi

Part I Introduction

1 The Long Shadows Simo Laakkonen Richard P. Tucker Timo Vuorisalo 3

2 Polemosphere: The War, Society, and the Environment Simo Laakkonen 15

3 World War II: A Global Perspective Evan Mawdsley 37

Part II Social and Environmental Impacts of the War

4 Environmental Policies of the Third Reich Simo Laakkonen 55

5 The Costs of the War for the Soviet Union Paul Josephson 75

6 Conceptualizing Wartime Flood and Famine in China Micah S. Muscolino 97

7 Environmental Scars in Northeastern India and Burma Richard P. Tucker 117

8 Hawai'i: Before and After Pearl Harbor Carol Maclennan 135

9 The Great Louse War: Control of Typhus Fever Helene Laurent 155

10 Perspectives on the Acoustic Ecology of War Outi Ampuja 175

Part III Resource Extraction and the War

11 Aluminum's Permanent Revolution Matthew Evenden 197

12 Crisis Utilization in Mexican Forests Christopher R. Boyer 217

13 Food Disruption and Agricultural Policy in Tanganyika Gregory Maddox 231

14 Japanese Imperialism and Marine Resources William M. Tsutsui Timo Vuorisalo 251

15 Opening the Circumpolar Arctic World Ilmo Massa Alla Bolotova 275

16 International Conservation after the Two World Wars Anna-Katharina Wöbse 295

Part IV Conclusions

17 Hypotheses: World War II and Its Shadows Simo Laakkonen Richard P. Tucker Timo Vuorisalo 315

List of Contributors 333

Index 337

Editorial Reviews

"The contributors to [the landmark book] The Long Shadows have marshalled impressive historical materials delineating the human and environmental tragedies stemming from World War II."
- G. Tracy Mehan III, The Environmental Forum

From the Publisher