Mike Davis\' Argument How Persuasive

¶ … Mike Davis' argument

How persuasive is Mike Davis's argument that European racism, free trade, and the environment conspired to murder millions between 1875 and 1910? Which of the three holds the most blame?

The book of Mike Davis "Late Victorian Holocausts" was all about the economic devastation of the India, China and Brazil and successive famine. These countries suffered most during the holocaust period that results in failure to produce more food and not just that they also suffered exploitation of modernization.

Mike Davis begins the analysis of his book through the natural phenomenon that happened during the late 19th century which is known as the El Nino - Southern Oscillation (ENSO). The ENSO caused droughts and floods all over the world but he emphasized his analysis to the most affected country which is the Brazil, India and China. It stated there that they blame the death of millions of people because starvation. They have starved for the reason that there were no more crops to harvest. The lands were dry because of El Nino.

Mike Davis argued about the treatment of the rich people in Brazil that they opt to support the British imperialists than supporting their own countrymen. The British country made the Indians as their laborer in exchange for food; they made them a slave and suffered till death especially when famine came. The Brazilian elites did the same way with the Indians. The Brazilians developed the southern part of their country because most of the people that lived there were rich and white men and they encouraged Europeans to settle there for the reason that they were modernized. On the opposite side of the country of Brazil which is north, they refused to modernize it and left it alone because most of the people living there are black men and most of them are poor. They were a victim of racial discrimination. They work hard; they sold their crops and foods for a cheaper price so that they could earn money.

Between 1870 and 1900, the three countries have suffered a natural phenomenon which is the horrifying drought and such devastation caused famine resulting to death of millions of people. It was this economical devastation that Mike Davis argued about the abused and manipulation of the British imperialists where let other countries suffered for their own benefit. They opened the "free trade" market and destroyed the China and India's sanctuary of foods. The British imperialist built different kinds of roads because of their goal to modernize so that they can become part of the developing country; they did not bother to listen to people's repulsion in modernizing. They destroyed some agricultural lands which is the source of their food. For this reason, when drought came, the British were saved but millions of people died because of starvation.

Which of the three holds he most blame?

Mike Davis knew that the holocaust had three causes but then he pointed out that the main reason why millions of people died was the fact the British Imperialism brought about. They imposed free-trade and took advantage of the El Nino or the nature. He said that the root cause of the death of millions was because of they deprived the third world countries from food; they bought all of their crops and pay them in small amount and it should not be blamed with the nature. Actually, Davis said that there were enough food to feed everybody but then the Europeans stocked all their foods for themselves and for their countrymen.