Description

Although the product of a self-proclaimed consensus politics, the British Empire was always based on communications supremacy and the knowledge of the atmosphere. Using the metaphor of a thread of five pieces representing the categories science, industry, government, the military, and the education, this is the first book to study the relations between wireless and Empire throughout the interwar period. It is also the first to make full use of the abundant archive material and rich sources existing in Britain and the Dominions. The book examines the evolving connection between the development of imperial radio communications and atmospheric physics; the expansion and strength of the British radio industry and its relationship with the elucidation of the ionosphere; and the different extent to which Australia, Canada and New Zealand managed toemulate the British model of radio R&D in the interwar years. The book ends with a highly original and provocative epilogue: 'The realist interpretation of the atmosphere'.

Features

• A multidisciplinary and broad-minded approach to science, technology, geopolitics and industry.
• Valuable and copious archive material and sources.
• A select and profuse bibliography.
• Literary elegance.

Reviews

"A remarkable and surprising story."--Malcolm Longair, University of Cambridge

"A work of serious scholarship on a subject that is important in the history of twentieth century science."--Daniel Headrick, Roosevelt University, Chicago

"An exemplary case study of the interaction between science, technology, politics and economics. The stories that Anduaga tells flow smoothly and compellingly. An impressive and original work."--Helge Kragh, University of Aarhus

Product Details

288 pages; 26 b/w illus. & 4pp color plates; 6 x 9; ISBN13: 978-0-19-956272-5ISBN10: 0-19-956272-5

About the Author(s)