Dismantling Disaster Capitalism: What Does the New Green Deal Look Like for Archaeology?

Summary

This is a forum/panel proposal presented at the 2021 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

Disaster capitalism takes place as private industries spring up to directly profit from large-scale crises, like natural disasters or wars, while exploiting and exacerbating existing inequalities. In the United States, the current administration’s Executive Order waiving environmental review is one example of disaster capitalism in that it removes regulations to spur economic growth. Post-Katrina New Orleans is another example. Championed by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Edward J. Markey, the Green New Deal is a congressional resolution that lays out a grand plan for tackling climate change, ending disaster capitalism, and generating social justice for Black, Indigenous and People of Color. Panelists will discuss the ways archaeology intersects with disaster capitalism, how archaeology can address social inequalities, and the role of archaeology in the New Green Deal.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Forum / Panel Proposals   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2021

Keywords

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology