Dealing with the Dinosaur (and Its Swamp): Putting the Environment in Diplomatic History
In: Diplomatic history, Volume 29, Issue 4, p. 573-587
ISSN: 0145-2096
The need for an environmental turn in contemporary diplomatic history studies is articulated. Multiple explanations for diplomatic history's relative lack of interest in environmental issues are offered, eg, other relevant topics (eg, war & conflict) are more important & the newness of the environmental movement suggests topic is not an appropriate subject for historical analysis. Two factors that further problematize studies of environmental diplomacy are subsequently identified: the migratory & transnational nature of the environment & the highly theoretical nature of environmental history. Consequently, several texts are recommended in order to establishing an environmental diplomatic history curricula in US universities, eg, Mark Lytle's (1996) seminal work on adopting an environmental approach to US diplomatic history. In addition, three issues that require immediate attention by environmental diplomacy historians & students are illuminated, eg, the US's influence upon the domestic ecology & the global environment. J. W. Parker
