New Books Network Rot: An Imperial History of the Irish Famine
May 22, 2025
Dr. Padraic X. Scanlan, an associate professor at the University of Toronto, dives into the catastrophic Irish Famine, revealing how British colonialism exacerbated its devastation. He discusses the overreliance on potatoes in an unequal marketplace, critiquing laissez-faire policies that prioritized profits over lives. Unpacking the exploitation and the stigmatization of the Irish, Scanlan links historical narratives to contemporary inequalities, demonstrating how deeply entangled identities and economic practices shaped the tragedy of the famine and its lasting legacy.
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Pandemic Shapes Irish Famine Book
- Padraic Scanlan was nudged to write about Ireland and its economy due to parallels with formerly enslaved labor in the British Empire.
- He researched and wrote most of the book during the pandemic, which shaped his perspective on crisis management.
Ireland's Unique Famine Vulnerability
- The potato blight was a widespread European problem but became catastrophic only in Ireland.
- Ireland's unique economic and imperial status made it vulnerable to famine effects not seen elsewhere in Europe.
Colonial Roots of Irish Exploitation
- Ireland's history with England involved complex colonial exploitation and aristocratic dispossession.
- Despite formal union, Ireland remained economically subordinate and exploited within the British Empire.
