War and Nature

Fighting Humans and Insects with Chemicals from World War I to Silent Spring

Edmund Russell author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Cambridge University Press

Published:12th Feb '01

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

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War and Nature cover

This 2001 book shows the intersection of chemical warfare and pest control in the twentieth century.

Combining discussion of technology, nature, and warfare, this 2001 book explains the impact of war on nature and vice versa. Using the history of chemical warfare and pest control as a case study, this book helps us understand the development of total war and the rise of the modern environmental movement.War and Nature combines discussion of technology, nature, and warfare to explain the impact of war on nature and vice versa. While cultural and scholarly traditions have led us to think of war and control of nature as separate, this 2001 book uses the history of chemical warfare and pest control as a case study to show that war and control of nature coevolved. Ideologically, institutionally, and technologically, the paths of chemical warfare and pest control intersected repeatedly in the twentieth century. These intersections help us understand the development of total war and the rise of the modern environmental movement.

'An engrossing, unusual social narrative, documenting the close ties between chemical weapons development and 'peaceful' applications in insect warfare.' Kirkus
'… ample fodder for a thought-provoking and eminently readable book.' Alastair Hay, Nature
'… a thought-provoking and eminently readable book. A sequel might be where much of it went wrong.' Alastair Hay, Nature
'Russell's narrative prose is as engaging as it is informative … War and Nature will be of valuable source for historians and others seeking a broad cultural history of these specific aspects of chemical research in the twentieth century …'. Ambix 50
'… the book breaks new ground in its connection of two traditionally disparate fields of inquiry, environmental and military history. It should be required reading in college courses in both security studies and environmental science.' History

ISBN: 9780521790031

Dimensions: 235mm x 159mm x 28mm

Weight: 595g

336 pages