Neutrality’s Empire Swedish Colonialism in the Industrial Age
Produktdetaljer
Biografisk notat
Per Högselius is Professor of History of Technology at KTH Royal Institute of Technology. His research and teaching focuses on energy history and extractivism in an international context. His book Red Gas: Russia and the Origins of European Energy Dependence (2013) won the Marshall Shulman Book Prize, awarded by the Association for Slavic, East European and Eurasian Studies (ASEEES).
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<em>“This is a very important intervention into both histories of Swedish colonialism and also into theoretical understandings of colonialism. It usefully extends consideration of Sweden’s role beyond the traditional colonial era of the 16-18th centuries to consider the 19th and 20th centuries- as such, it is addressing Sweden’s role within the emergent forces of globalization.”</em> <strong>• Audrey Horning</strong>, William & Mary College</p>
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<em>“This is an extremely important book. It explores Swedish initiation and involvement in extractivist colonial and neocolonial projects in Africa and Asia, drawing attention to the discourses and politics that allowed Swedish companies, individuals, and state to operate as colonial and neocolonial actors without drawing objection or criticism.”</em> <strong>• Magdalena Naum</strong>, Lund University</p>
Reconciling Sweden’s reputation for political neutrality and scientific prestige alongside its involvement in extractivist colonial projects exposes uncomfortable overlaps between these seemingly disparate ventures. In this illuminating reappraisal of the intersections between Swedish colonialism and its industrial history, Neutrality’s Empire explores how Swedish actors—ranging from diplomats and business leaders to missionaries, geologists and engineers—leveraged Sweden’s global standing to access valuable mineral resources across Africa and Asia. In doing so, this book presents a historical narrative which clarifies Sweden’s entanglement with the forces of globalization, colonialism, and climate change.
List of Figures
Acknowledgments
Introduction: Sweden’s Colonial Experience
Part I: Africa
Chapter 1. The Scramble for Africa: Sweden-Norway at the Berlin Conference 1884–85
Chapter 2. Toward a Swedish Colonial Presence in Africa
Chapter 3. Anti-Neocolonial Mining? The Politics of Swedish Extractivism in Cold War Africa, by Karl Bruno
Part II: Eurasia
Chapter 4. The Nobel Brothers and the Origins of Russian Petro-Colonialism
Chapter 5. “No Undue Ambitions”: Sweden’s Quest for China’s Natural Resources
Chapter 6. Dirty Mining, Stainless Steel: Challenging the Great Powers in Post-Ottoman Turkey
Chapter 7. Tapping into the Soviet Union’s Colonial Resource Wealth
Conclusion: Understanding Swedish Colonialism in the Industrial Age
Bibliography
Index
David Nilsson is an engineer and historian with more than twenty years of experience in development cooperation, research, and policy, with a focus on sub-Saharan Africa. Dr. Nilsson’s publications span several fields including African history, science and technology studies, urban geography, innovation management, and sustainability. He currently works in the private sector as an advisor and entrepreneur.
Produktdetaljer
Biografisk notat
Per Högselius is Professor of History of Technology at KTH Royal Institute of Technology. His research and teaching focuses on energy history and extractivism in an international context. His book Red Gas: Russia and the Origins of European Energy Dependence (2013) won the Marshall Shulman Book Prize, awarded by the Association for Slavic, East European and Eurasian Studies (ASEEES).