Possessing the Pacific

“[Banner’s] overarching argument is an important one: dispelling the myth that colonization patterns were driven by policies set at home. This original and significant study will appeal to readers hoping to understand an issue whose ramifications are still felt today.”—Publishers Weekly

“In a style that is lucid and direct, Stuart Banner builds an extensively researched comparative study of settler societies that span the Pacific Ocean. He forces us to rethink the prevailing interpretations of the rise of Anglo-American dominance and the dispossession of indigenous peoples in the nineteenth century.”—Michael Adas, author of Dominance by Design: Technological Imperatives and America’s Civilizing Mission

“This comparative study of the ways that the lands of Australasians, Polynesians, and North American Pacific coast tribes were taken by British and American governments is rich in evidence and wise in analysis. A wonderful addition.”—Peter Karsten, University of Pittsburgh

“Fascinating, convincing, and beautifully written, this is popular legal history that tells an important story about British and American settlers’ perception and treatment of native rights to Pacific lands. A major new book in the field.”—Bruce Kercher, Macquarie University, Australia

“Remarkable for its breadth, vision, and mastery of native title and land expropriation issues, Possessing the Pacific is graced by brilliant writing. Stuart Banner’s meticulous research, good judgment, and crisp prose combine to make this book a marvelous contribution to comparative history. An all-round triumph!”—John Weaver, McMaster University, Canada