The Nation Beneath the Soil: Extractive Nation-Building and Ecological Belonging in Amitav Ghosh’s The Nutmeg’s Curse

Abstract

The idea of nation-building is frequently attributed to political sovereignty, economic growth, territorial consolidation, and prospects for the future. However, not all the events contributing to this concept are positive. They include various activities related to the history of plunder and the life and work of ordinary people. Amitav Ghosh, in his book The Nutmeg’s Curse: Parables for a Planet in Crisis (2021), describes the impact of imperialism and colonial exploitation on nature and ordinary folk. This paper aims to demonstrate how the author relates current developments with their colonial preconditions, changing the then-presented perception of the concept of extractive nation-building.

Consequently, this paper examines the author’s thesis about colonialism’s unfairness towards nature and local inhabitants through the lens of modern colonialism’s growth and development. Firstly, Ghosh begins the discussion by introducing the objective history of the plunder of products and resources connected with the nutmeg. In his account, one can notice an attempt to document all the stages of resource exploitation, starting from the conquest of the island by the Portuguese and ending with the author’s observations of today’s nature. This approach allows the readers to look at the processes from a micro perspective and see the long-term consequences of colonial exploitation.

Furthermore, the problem presented in the book is approached not only from the historical and geopolitical point of view but also from the ecological one. The author tries to describe the importance of nature for the survival and development of nations and states. In this regard, Ghosh

 introduces the concept of “ecological belonging” that implies the relationship between people and their country. However, the ecological approach goes beyond just belonging to a state; it covers all components of nature that people encounter in their lives. Therefore, the author concludes by saying that for the sustainability of nations, it is essential to rethink the current processes of colonialism and extractivism.

In conclusion, this paper illustrates the main theses and arguments of Amitav Ghosh’s The Nutmeg’s Curse: Parables for a Planet in Crisis (2021). The book provides readers with an opportunity to view history from the perspective of ordinary people and nature. The author combines the narration of past and modern events to outline the relationship between humanity and the environment. In his search for the essence of nation-building, Ghosh presents an idea that can be called “ecological belonging.” Moreover, the author offers a solution to the existing environmental problems, drawing attention to the necessity of changing the current trajectory of development.