Rivers by Design - State Power and the Origins of U.S. Flood Control

摘要

Karen M. O'Neill, an Assistant Professor of Human Ecology at Rutgers University, New Jersey, has produced a clearly written, bold analysis of the history of the US flood control measures. She uses case studies to focus on key aspects, but the scope of the book is still very wide to attract a large audience. There are, however, many claims concerning details without providing evidence (e.g. referenced literature).rnThe book has been split into the three major sections: I) rivers and state authority; II) regional competition and the flood control campaign; and III) the design of rivers according to national interests. The first section reviews infrastructural developments including the key principles of river management, and can therefore be viewed as a soft introduction to the topic.