A Tapestry of Crisis: How Colonial Roots Intersect with Global Warming, According to Amitav Ghosh
Acclaimed Indian author Amitav Ghosh argues that the West’s fragmented vision of individualism, nurtured through generations by literary giants like William Golding, is partially to blame for the climate crisis we face today. He sees these ingrained narratives, often absorbed early by Western readers, as a stumbling block in our attempts to tackle the pressing ecological challenges of the 21st century.
Ghosh, recently awarded the prestigious Seamus Deane Lecture 2024, a forum discussing contemporary issues through a literary lens, argues that Ireland, with its history entangled with British colonialism, offers a unique vantage point to dissect the environmental puzzle. He highlights the profound impacts of colonialism, especially the exploitation of natural resources and the subjugation of indigenous peoples, emphasizing that Ireland stands as a "living memory" of this history.
For Ghosh, the ongoing climate crisis is not merely a scientific problem; it’s intricately woven into the fabric of colonialism and the unchecked yearning for profit and expansion that fueled it.
“Most of all, [Field Day’s work] is concerned with questions of place. How do we care for a place? How do we inhabit a place? And, equally, issues of humans and non-humans – how do they interact with each other,” Ghosh points out, echoing themes explored by the Irish theater company, Field Day, known for its politically charged exploration of identity and belonging in Northern Ireland.
Ghosh’s own focus on the impact of colonialism is deeply connected to the stories we tell ourselves about the world. He contends that dominant narratives, often present in Western literature and ingrained in our cultural consciousness, have led us down a path of environmental destruction.
"I think it’s very important to tell stories. …But, in effect, if we look around us, if we look at the planetary crisis in the broadest possible sense, it is in a sense a crisis that has been brought about by a story: a story of endless profit, endless growth, of individualism," he explains.
These ideas jumpstart his in-depth exploration of plant life, beyond the traditional roles assigned to nature as a mere backdrop. For Ghosh, plants become historical subjects, unexpectedly entangled in the human narrative. He delves into the curious world of plant sentience and the powerful influence these plants wielded in shaping the course of history.
Ghosh presents the case that plants, far from being passive bystanders in human affairs, play a crucial role in shaping historical events. His writings unpack the historical significance of plants like the nutmeg and opium poppy. These plants, harnessed for profit and power, become key players in shaping global events.
Through Opium’s Hidden Histories and Smoke and Ashes, Ghosh reveals the insidious role these plants played in fueling colonial empires, drawing striking parallels between the 19th century opium crisis in China and the current opioid epidemic in the United States. The cyclical patterns of addiction, exploitation, and societal devastation emerge as chilling reminders of the enduring power of these entwined histories.
“What opium did to China in the 19th century was to create an absolute political, moral and financial catastrophe for the country. And it took them decades and decades to finally recover in the 20th century. … And, so, I think when you see these patterns, you can’t help but feel that this plant, the opium poppy, is actually a historical agent which is creating certain cyclical patterns in history,” he insists, exposing how history often repeats itself, leaving a lasting impact on societies.
Building on these historical connections, Ghosh views the emergence of Covid-19 not merely as a singular event, but as a powerful preview of challenges that await us in a warming world. He sees echoes of historical consequences, repeating patterns of societal breakdown during and after the pandemic, highlighting Western vulnerabilities exposed in the face of emerging crises.
"I think it’s very important to remember that half the greenhouse gases that are in the atmosphere have been put there since 1990 – since the end of the Cold War, since this very specificist moment,” he explains, emphasizing the accelerating impact of globalized capitalism.
He points to the increasingly unstable geopolitical landscape, a fresh-ing point for further environmental instability, with nascent multipolarity adding new layers of complexity.
He paints a sobering picture of global instability driven by economic interests: “Now, the single most environmentally destructive environmental activity is war. These wars are intensifying… One thing these wars have made clear is where the world’s priorities lie.
Hernández adds to his analysis by underscoring how these geopolitical shifts, particularly the decline of US hegemony, will escalate existing environmental problems, predicting, "Climate as an issue has now become completely marginal… even as we’re seeing more and more climate disasters occurring all around us. We’re living through an absolutely catastrophic conjuncture of events."
Together with Stephen Rea at the Seamus Deane Lecture, 2024, Ghosh’s words will no doubt challenge audiences to confront the deep-seated narratives about our relationship with the natural world:
## A World Woven in Narrative: A Conversation with Amitav Ghosh
**World Today News:** Mr. Ghosh, thank you for speaking with us. Your recent Seamus Deane Lecture sparked a lot of discussion, especially your assertion that the West’s fragmented view of individualism, fostered by literature, contributes to the climate crisis. Could you elaborate on that?
**amitav Ghosh:** Certainly. Many great Western literary works celebrate individual heroism and a separation from nature. They often depict a landscape as a passive backdrop rather than an intertwined web of life, often to be conquered or exploited. This fosters a mindset that sees humanity operating outside, rather than within, the natural world. This narrative, though powerful and enduring, blinds us to our interconnectedness with the environment and fuels a belief in limitless growth and individualism, elements that directly feed into the climate crisis.
**World Today News:** You’ve said Ireland, with its historical connection to colonialism, provides a “living memory” of this issue. Can you elaborate on that?
**Amitav Ghosh:** Ireland’s experience during colonization, the systematic exploitation of its resources and the subjugation of its people, offers a microcosm of the global colonial project. This history, still tangible in Ireland’s landscape and social fabric, allows us to see, often more clearly, the lasting impact of colonial ideologies on our relationship with the environment.It unveils the interconnectedness of exploitation and environmental degradation.
**World Today News:** You’ve spoken about plants not just as background but as historical subjects. How do you see this expanding our understanding of the crisis?
**Amitav Ghosh:** Plants have borne witness to the unfolding story of humankind. They have been witnesses to colonialism, to the destruction of ecosystems and the rise of consumerism. By studying plant life, their adaptations and responses to these changes, we gain a deeper understanding of the impact of human actions on the planet.
**World Today News:** You mention storytelling as a double-edged sword – a source of both the problem and its potential solution. Can you explain further?
**Amitav Ghosh:** Stories can be incredibly powerful tools. They carry, often unconsciously, deeply ingrained cultural values and worldviews. those narratives that celebrate individualism, endless growth, and a disconnect from nature have led us down this risky path. Though, we can reclaim the power of storytelling to weave new narratives, ones that emphasize interconnectedness, obligation, and respect for the natural world. This is crucial for fostering the collective action needed to tackle the climate crisis.
**World Today News:** What concrete steps can individuals take,inspired by the new stories you advocate,to contribute to a change in outlook and action regarding the climate crisis?
**Amitav Ghosh:** We need to question the stories we tell ourselves,both individually and collectively. We need to embrace narratives that highlight our dependence on the natural world, that recognize the interconnectedness of all living things. this shift in perspective can lead to individual actions,from conscious consumption to advocacy for environmental policies. It can also inspire broader systemic change, prompting institutions and governments to prioritize sustainability and social justice. Remember, every story matters. The stories we tell ourselves today will shape the future.
