Science at the end of empire : experts and the development of the British Caribbean, 1940-62 / Sabine Clarke.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Clarke, Sabine, author.

Series:

Studies in imperialism (Manchester, England)

Studies in imperialism

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Technological innovations--Caribbean Area--History--20th century.

Technological innovations.

Industrialization--Caribbean Area--History--20th century.

Industrialization.

Colonies.

Economic policy.

History.

Great Britain--Colonies--Caribbean Area--Economic policy--20th century--History.

Great Britain.

British colonies.

Caribbean Area.

Genre:

History.

Physical Description:

xi, 206 pages : illustrations, maps, 1 portrait ; 24 cm.

Other Title:

Experts and the development of the British Caribbean, 1940-62

Place of Publication:

Manchester : Manchester University Press, 2018.

Summary:

This is the first account of Britain's plans for industrial development in its Caribbean colonies - something that historians have usually said Britain never contemplated. It shows that Britain's remedy to the poor economic conditions in the Caribbean gave a key role to laboratory research to re-invent sugarcane as the raw material for making fuels, plastics and drugs. Science at the end of empire explores the practical and also political functions of scientific research and economic advisors for Britain at a moment in which Caribbean governments operated with increasing autonomy and the US was intent on expanding its influence in the region. Britain's preferred path to industrial development was threatened by an alternative promoted through the Caribbean Commission. The provision of knowledge and expertise became key routes by which Britain and America competed to shape the future of the region, and their place in it.

This book is open access under a CC BY license. This is the first account of Britain's plans for industrial development in its Caribbean colonies - something that historians have usually said Britain never contemplated. It shows that Britain's remedy to the poor economic conditions in the Caribbean gave a key role to laboratory research to re-invent sugarcane as the raw material for making fuels, plastics and drugs. Science at the end of empire explores the practical and also political functions of scientific research and economic advisors for Britain at a moment in which Caribbean governments operated with increasing autonomy and the US was intent on expanding its influence in the region. Britain's preferred path to industrial development was threatened by an alternative promoted through the Caribbean Commission. The provision of knowledge and expertise became key routes by which Britain and America competed to shape the future of the region, and their place in it. -- .

Contents:

1 New uses for sugar p. 21

2 Scientific research and colonial development after 1940 p. 49

3 'Men, money and advice' for Caribbean development p. 76

4 Laboratory science, laissez-faire economics and modernity p. 104

5 An industrialisation programme for Trinidad p. 129

6 Bringing research 'down from the skies' p. 154.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 193-201) and index.

Other Format:

Online version: Clarke, Sabine. Science at the end of empire.

ISBN:

1526131382

9781526131386

OCLC:

1014095415