Center Of Economic Development Research Articles

A Multimodal Discourse Analysis of a Propaganda Image—Taking the Official Homepage of One Belt and One Road Economic and Cultural Development Center as an Example

Nowadays, China is overwhelmed by the thoughts of “One Belt and One Road Economic and Cultural Development”, which was proposed by President Xi Jinping in 2013. That is the main reason why we choose the propaganda image of One Belt and One Road Economic and Cultural Development Center, an official homepage (http://www.oborecdc.org), as research target. And we call it “One Belt and One Road Multimodal Discourse” for convenience in this paper. This paper, applying Kress & van Leeuwen’s Visual Grammar theoretical framework, is studied with qualitative analysis from three aspects, which are representational function, interactive function and compositional function. Besides, based on the specific social and cultural context, the paper gives a specific analysis of how different semiotic resources work together to produce a integrated meaning system. It is founded that: 1) For representational function, “One Belt and One Road Multimodal Discourse” belongs to a conceptual image, which includes the classification process and symbolism process; 2) As for interactive function, the designer builds the interactive relationship with viewers by using frontal-horizontal angle of view; 3) In composing the whole image, due to the different value of information, the designer composes the image by using different location, size and color. Specifically speaking, the central writing system belongs to the main mode, while the other visual modes mainly complement or highlight it in order to effectively realize the total meaning of the whole image; 4) Based on specific social and cultural context, the designer combines the historical symbol-Silk Road and cultural symbol-Chinese Red with realistic Symbol-globalization, to realize the complete meaning of “One Belt and One Road Multimodal Discourse”. It is theoretically and practically significant to do this research. Theoretically speaking, it enriches the relative research on static multimodal discourse analysis. In practice, it helps viewers to understand the implied meaning of “One Belt and One Road Multimodal Discourse” better.

THE NEW URBANISM APPROACH IN CITY LOGISTICS PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT. SEARCHING FOR SOLUTIONS ON THE GOTHENBURG AND GDANSK CASE STUDIES

Cities nowadays, “contaminated” with motorization have become an area of contradictory traits: on the one hand, they are still centers of economic and social development, on the other hand their space has become unfriendly and even dangerous to residents and users. In the face of such problems, solutions must be taken to transform the cities’ spaces into friendly and livable along with improving the quality of citizens’ life. Unfortunately, the simplest and cheapest solutions can even have the opposite effects if they lead only to limiting the free flows of resources within urban space. The aim of the article is the comparative analysis of two cities Gdansk and Gothenburg to demonstrate the differences in the streets structure of both cities, and to demonstrate the solutions which make up Gothenburg’s public space, indeed public, and thus allow to all users for coexistence without limiting logistics of economics and social processes. Comparative analysis was done using a local vision and analysis of available literature sources. The article presents the infrastructure’s and organizational solutions used at the center of Gothenburg. Comparative analysis showed the differences in space with similar functions in Gdansk and Gothenburg. Analysis showed how people function within the space unfriendly for pedestrians and how space can change in favor of the inhabitants without losing its functions after applying various infrastructural and organizational solutions.

Integrated management of root rot and foot rot disease of durian

Integrated management of root rot and foot rot disease of durian was conducted at Chanthaburi Horticultural Research Center (Eastern Region Economic Fruit Development Center) during October 2008 to August 2010. The management consisted of five methods: 1) metalaxyl; 2) chitosan together with LDD3 (Trichoderma spp.); 3) chitosan together with metalaxyl and LDD3; 4) Immunplus (immunity stimulant) together with LDD3; and 5) Immunplus together with metalaxyl and LDD3. All five methods were able to control root and foot rot disease with disease reduction of 77.7, 44.4, 77.7, 66.6 and 66.6%, respectively. When healing wounds in the second round, all methods could heal wounds. Recommendations for integrated management to control durian root rot and foot rot comprise a reduction of soil-borne pathogens (Phytophthora spp.) using antagonistic fungus (Trichoderma spp.), and phosphorus acid injection to durian trunk to provide trunk rot protection, which should be done as soon as the diseases are found. If small wounds are found on durians antagonistic fungus can be applied.

PENGARUH KERAGAMAN BELANJA TERHADAP KETIMPANGAN PENDAPATAN ANTAR DAERAH DI PROVINSI JAMBI

The purpose of this study was to determine income inequality and the effect diversity of expense toward income inequality in the period 2005-2015. The analysis method used quantitative analysis with Williamson Index analysis and simple regression, the date got from ten districts in jamby province. The results this study showed income inequality between regions during the period has category medium inequality,the variety of region expense has effect positive significant to income inequality level. Conclusion this study was the higher level of diversity of expense will be increase income inequality between regions. The policy implication of this research was develop the economic development center that taked to the potential of each region by utilizing resources in the region so that the level of income inequality between regions is not too high.Keywords : diversity of expense, income inequality, economic development, potential of region.

Central Asia as the economic and geopolitical tension nexus: Some implications for the world futures

During the last millennium the world economic and geopolitical conflicts were to a great extent connected: different crises in the World System's evolution stimulated geopolitical shifts and vice versa. This article argues that in the 15th century different geopolitical events and conflicts in Central Asia initiated the fall of the previous World System and the rise of the new one. This transformation resulted in the fall of overland and river trade routes, including the Great Silk Route, which passed through Central Asia. World trade shifted to sea and ocean routes, and European countries became the center of the new World System. Now, in the beginning of the 21st century a new transformation of the World System is underway. The center of economic and political development is migrating gradually to the East: this is why the geopolitical role of the Central Asian states is increasing. Central Asian states are a very important part of the New Silk Route; this route is to connect Eastern Asia with Europe and the Middle East. The United States, China, Russia, and other states are ardently competing to control the New Silk Route. Hence, different geopolitical, social, and military conflicts are probable in Central Asia. So economic and political integration in Eurasia between Russia, China, the United States and Central Asian states is very important for the geopolitical stabilization of the region. The article evaluates the main scenarios of geopolitical changes in Central Asia.

The Effect of Exchange Rate Movements and Economic Growth on Job Creation

AbstractJob creation is at the centre of economic development and remains a source of sustenance for social and human relations. The creation of a job-enabling economic environment is imperative in promoting social and economic cohesiveness in the macro and microeconomic environment. Any shocks to the economy, particularly those of exchange rate shocks and changes in economic growth, may negatively affect the labour market and job creation. This study made use of quarterly observations, from the first quarter of 1995 to the fourth quarter of 2015, to investigate the effect of the real exchange rate and economic growth on South Africa’s employment status. South Africa, a developing country, was selected as a case study due to its high unemployment rate that is still increasing. The Vector Autoregressive (VAR) model and multivariate co-integration techniques were used in assessing the impact and responsiveness of employment to the real exchange rate and real economic growth in South Africa. Findings of this study revealed that employment responds positively to economic growth and negatively to the real exchange rate in the long-run. The short-run displays a positive relationship between real economic growth and employment, while the relationship between employment and the real exchange rate is also negative. However, the effect of economic growth in creating jobs is not significant enough in stimulating job creation in South Africa, as indicated by results in variance decomposition. Movements in the exchange rate exerted a significant short and long-run negative effect on employment dynamics; implying that a depreciation of the rand against the U.S. dollar is associated with decrease in overall employment. Exchange rate stability is thus important for economic growth and job creation in South Africa. The study provided further recommendations on promoting job creation in South Africa and other developing countries.

Rethinking the Links between Human Relationships and Economic Efficiency Using Local Institutions: The Case of Two Emerging Economies

:Emerging countries around the world have been growing fast over the last thirty years, with most of these countries basing their economic development on a state capitalism. Within these countries, there is a concentration of wealth in the hands of a few people. This fact confirms the analysis of Thorstein Veblen (1898) who shows the gap that exists between the vested interest of the rich and the unmet needs of the poor. The world happiness report (Helliwell, Layard and Sachs 2016) also shows for the emerging economies a gap between the world rank in economic growth and in wellbeing. I propose a new paradigm of development for two emerging economies, Brazil and South Africa, by putting human development in the center of economic development and by using different approaches in economics and psychology. My analysis links the theories of Carl Shapiro and Joseph E. Stiglitz regarding “efficiency wages” (1984) with the complexity approach (Le Moigne 1995). This approach combines the results of positive psychology (Kahneman 2011) with the role of local institutions for improving the economic development of emerging economies (Deaton 2016). In the first section of the article, I examine definitions of economic and human wealth. In the second section, I analyze the gaps that exist between the standard-of-living ranking and the wellbeing ranking for both Brazil and South Africa in order to present meso-happiness indexes linking the micro- and macro-levels of human wealth. In the last section, I analyze the way local institutions in Brazil and South Africa could create dynamic links for these countries’ efficient functioning in the world economy.

Development of an urban intensity index to facilitate urban ecosystem studies in Trinidad and Tobago

ABSTRACTUrban ecosystems, considered centres of economic, social and cultural development, face a multitude of environmental and socio-economic challenges, which impact on quality of life. Effective management of the urbanization process is believed critical to improving quality of life and realizing sustainable development. The ecosystem perspective provides a holistic approach, needed to address the complexly interconnected issues, which arise from urban development. Central to the mapping and characterization of urban ecosystems is the delineation of their boundaries, which are made less transparent by growing urbanization. This exposes the limitations of a dichotomous approach. An urban intensity index is a critical tool which supports urban ecosystem studies by facilitating analysis of effects along the urban–rural gradient. In this study, Urban Intensity is estimated and ranked from most to least intense for communities across Trinidad and Tobago, using multivariate statistical analysis of physical data from the built environment. This statistically validated index, designed for Trinidad and Tobago, should have wider applicability to other disciplines and countries.

ДВУХВЕКТОРНЫЙ ПОДХОД КНР К РАЗРЕШЕНИЮ ТЕРРИТОРИАЛЬНЫХ СПОРОВ В ЮЖНО-КИТАЙСКОМ МОРЕ

The Asia-Pacific region is becoming one of the centers of global economic and political development. Countries of the region actively develop their economy, implement democratic reforms, and are also interested in peace and security in the region. A serious destabilizing factor in the Asia-Pacific region is territorial disputes between China and a number of countries in the region. China is taking the lead in the region and resolutely defends its interests, including territorial ones. The growing economic and military strength of China bothers other countries of Asia-Pacific region. Japan, Vietnam, South Korea, Indonesia also claim regional leadership. They also demonstrate determination in their territorial claims. Confrontation with China encourages the countries of the region to seek political and military support from the US, that could lead to the aggravation of the situation in the region in future. Meanwhile, China is also interested in good relations with neighbors, that’s why it changes approaches of solving its territorial issues. The objective of the research is to define China’s approach to territorial disputes in Asia-Pacific region. For this purpose, the authors set some tasks: first, to point out the main territorial disputes between China and Asia-Pacific countries, second, to consider how the problem of territorial disputes in Asia-Pacific region first appeared and developed, and how the Chinese government reacted to it, and finally, to analyze the role of international organizations, such as the UN and ASEAN in settling disputes in Asia-Pacific region. Summarizing the results of their research, the authors make the important conclusion that China’s stance on disputed territories remains unchanged, and at the same time, Chinese government seeks to solve the existing territorial problems peacefully, without using military force.

DONETSK CENTER OF FLINT PROCESSING IN THE STONE AGE – CHALCOLITHIC

Because of specifics of geological history, in geographical borders of Eastern Europe several large areas of flint deposits of the Cretaceous and Carboniferous periods were formed. In these areas in the Stone Age and the Chalcolithic, the centers for production and preprocessing of flint were created. The centers had complex structure, which depended on nature of distribution in space of geological sources of flint. The largest centers appeared in the basin of Middle Dniester, in the Western Volhynia, in the Western Belarus, in the basin of Desna and in Donbas. The Donetsk center of a flint processing had been created on the Middle Paleolithic and existed until the Chalcolithic. The bloom of the Donetsk center is dated back to the late Neolithic – the Chalcolithic. One can notice a connection between centers of a flint processing and development of cultural processes in Eastern Europe. There is an obvious conjugacy of the large production centers to the centers of intensive economic and social development of human collectives in primitive time. The article is devoted to the analyses of the framework of the Eastern European centers of flint processing from Stone Age to Chalcolithic.

СОЦИАЛЬНО-ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКИЕ МЕРЫ РАЗВИТИЯ ЮГО-ЗАПАДНЫХ РАЙОНОВ БРЯНСКОЙ ОБЛАСТИ, НАИБОЛЕЕ ПОСТРАДАВШИХ ОТ АВАРИИ НА ЧЕРНОБЫЛЬСКОЙ АЭС

The population of southwest regions of the Bryansk region (Novozybkovsky, Krasnogorsk, Zlyn-kovsky, Gordeevsky, Klintsy, Klimovsk and Starodub regions) was most exposed to radiation from the Cher-nobyl accident. 
 For reducing social and economic consequences of the accident it is necessary to increase population welfare, to create a social and attractive business envi-ronment, to promote innovative development of the industry, increase of the birth rate, growth of life ex-pectancy of citizens, formation of civil society, and also to control the city and the region effectively. 
 The article distinguishes the main socio-economic 
 problems of southwest regions of the Bryansk region, such as poor production development, low level of the salary, low level of investment into the fixed capital, poor health care, leaving of youth, etc. 
 For development of southwest regions of the Bryansk region it is necessary to increase enterprise activity through creation of industrial and agro-industrial clusters. It is also recommended to create Centre of economic development of southwest regions of the Bryansk region and transport-logistical center.

Estructuralismo - neo-estructuralismo y el análisis del desarrollo productivo

El presente artículo tiene como propósito fundamental explicar, a nivel teórico, las principales características del estructuralismo y del neo-estructuralismo, con el fin de asumir elementos que coadyuven al análisis del desarrollo productivo, especialmente, cuando existe claramente identificado un centro del desenvolvimiento económico social versus una periferia deprimida y heterogénea en sus estructuras. No se busca analizar casos particulares de países o regiones, desde este enfoque.La evolución del estructuralismo (finales de la década de los cuarenta y de los cincuenta) al neo-estructuralismo (década de los ochenta), generó que se diera en el nuevo enfoque -como paradigma alternativo al ajuste neoliberal-, una superación del paradigma estructuralista original en el que se inspiraba; incorporando al análisis los ciclos económicos, las asimetrías entre los centros y las periferias, los diversos efectos de la globalización por el regionalismo abierto y la desregulación; además, incluyó tres ejes relevantes: el económico, la equidad social y la autonomía nacional, aunque su base analítica continuaba siendo estructuralista. En esta nueva etapa se plantea el desarrollo desde la transformación productiva con equidad.El artículo pretende explorar, en la teoría del enfoque estructuralista y neo-estructuralista, los principales elementos de análisis que desde esta perspectiva, pueden facilitar el comportamiento de los sectores productivos y de la caracterización de territorios, proporcionando la información necesaria para la toma de decisiones en el diseño y ejecución de políticas públicas, que eliminen las fallas de los mercados periféricos con respecto a los denominados centros y así impulsar un mayor nivel de desarrollo.

Water resources of the Lakes of Russia

Presented are the results from qualitatively assessing the water resources of the lakes of the RF for all of the federal districts and the constituent entities of the Russian Federation involved in them. The assessment was made in the Institute of Limnology, Russian Academy of Sciences, following an ingenious technique that implies using real-time satellite-acquired data and the capabilities of the Google Earth program. Within the RF, interpretation covered the water bodies of different origins (either natural or artificial), including the lakes with a surface area of more than 0.01 km2. As a result, data were obtained for the volume of water resources contained in the water bodies of the RF, having a natural origin. It was found that, in spite of the huge lake resources, their distribution across the country’s territory is extremely uneven and is weakly correlated with the main centers of population and economic development. The most well-developed territories of the RF often experience a shortage of water resources, whereas the poorly developed regions are endowed with an immense potential of lake waters. Anthropogenic pressure leads to an even larger unevenness of lake water resource distribution. A comparison of the present-day lake areas as obtained from satellite images for the 2000s with cadastre assessment data for the 1960s has shown some decrease in the lake water resources for the European part of the country. A decrease in the surface area of the lakes and a drying of a number of natural water bodies were revealed for the economically most welldeveloped regions, both in the south of the Russian Plain and in a number of its central regions. On the other hand, the lake water resources of the RF were increased by creating man-made water bodies to contain about 890 km3 of water.

KAJIAN PENGEMBANGAN TEMPAT PELELANGAN IKAN (TPI) DI SENTRA KAWASAN PELABUHAN PERIKANAN MUARA KINTAP KABUPATEN TANAH LAUT PROVINSI KALIMANTAN SELATAN

The potential Fish Auction Place in the fish port of Muara Kintap is expected to become the center of economic growth and development of fisheries. The existence of the facility is an input to the process of the function implementation in Fish Auction Place which condition is related to its availability and number in the fish port. The facilities which are managed optimally will produce the optimum output anyway. This study aimed to identify the presence of TPI in the central area of the Muara Kintap in Kecamatan Tanah Laut which has the potential to be developed. This study uses descriptive qualitative research and literature survey. Based on the survey results, it was revealed that the condition of Fish Auction Place (TPI) in the fish port of Muara Kintap in Kecamatan Tanah Laut did not implement a pure auction, it was due to the basic facilities, unwell maintained functional and supporting tools, and also due to the collaboration of some merchants in controlling prices. Several attempts to optimize Fish Auction Place (TPI) including the addition of supporting facilities, such as clean water, cool boxes, scales and carts/baskets as well as banks as partners in financial institutions to access capitals for a business group of fishermen. The comfortable condition of loading and unloading activities, as well as sanitation and hygiene, really needs to be fulfilled, including the revitalization of the fish fleet. Ideally, in every region of fishery activities in a fishermen concentration area, a fish port should be built, or at least fish hauling with clean Fish Auction Unit, to meet the requirements of the integrated quality program so that the selling prices of fish caught by fishermen con be rewarded appropriately. SWOT analysis results indicated that strategy chosen was the S - O (Strengths – Opportunities) which utilized all power of Muara Kintap Fish Port to take advantage of development opportunities as much as possible.

Culture at the Center of Economic Development, Stability and Growth

<p>This paper stresses the importance of culture in understanding and, perhaps more accurately, predicting economic development. It’s intended to initiate, or re-initiate, the discussion of culture as the core of economic development, stability and growth.</p><p>My interest in the discussion of the economy is from a behavioral perspective, taking behavior as an outcome of culture, a factor that remains neglected in most economic literature explaining or forecasting the economy. It seems to me that because the existent literature in economics remains incomplete in terms of culture, predicting the success or failure of any economic model, applied within different cultural settings, may be inaccurate. Hence, the fundamental assumption presented in this document is that different regions in the world develop different economic levels due to cultural differences. I take example in East Asia in general and China in particular to explain cultural factors that have contributed to the economic development in the region.</p><p>The following discussion has been divided into five parts, as follows: First, an introduction to the main arguments. Second, a short discussion of the definition of culture developed by several scholars in the past. Elaborating on those earlier definitions, I propose a definition that may best suit the economic issue at hand. Third, a review of some of the most important economists and their key arguments, upon which I elaborate from a cultural perspective. Fourth, a discussion of East-Asian countries and China’s economic development from a cultural perspective. Fifth, my conclusions and a proposed model that includes culture as a factor in the decision-making process when choosing an economic strategy and its corresponding models.</p>

Сопряжение евразийской интеграциии Экономического пояса Шелкового пути: возможности для России

This article considers the opportunities for Russia presented by the launch of China’s Silk Road Economic Belt initiative.This initiative is a comprehensive project for the rapid development of Central Asian countries, and not limited only to transportand logistics to guarantee the supply of Chinese goods to Europe. It is also China’s response to economic and political processes both within the country and in the Asia-Pacific region: the economic slow down and transformation of its social and economic model, diverging income levels, the growing presence of the United States in Asia, and the new divisions of labour within the region. The Silk Road initiative is based on China’s intention to create strong regional value chains, to outsource labour-intensive and environmentally harmful production, to foster the development of north west China including securing political stability in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, and to guarantee the use of Chinese construction firms’ capacity. Goods transit is a secondary priority and justified not by commercial benefits from using land routes, but by the need to diversify export risks, arising due to the deteriorating military and political situation in the South China Sea. The 2015 Joint Statement on Cooperation on the Construction of Joint Eurasian Economic Union and the Silk Road Economic Belt projects resolves the issue of all egedly competitive goals of these complementary projects. The Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) provides an institutional base for cooperation while the Silk Road initiative provide investments for their development. Russia may benefit from participating in the Silk Road initiative. First, it would help integrate its transportation system into the region’s logistics network and provide additional opportunities for transit and associated logistical services as well as access to growing regional markets. Second, the Silk Road initiative offers opportunities to strengthen industrial cooperation among neighbouring countries to develop new economic clusters. Third, the EEU and the Silk Road may become the basis for more ambitious cooperation in greater Eurasia, which may transform into a new centre of economic development at the global level.

The amenity value of Abu Dhabi's coastal and marine resources to its beach visitors

Abu Dhabi, marketed as a centre of economic development in its geographic area during the post-oil era, is renowned for being a choice destination of high value individuals and tourists, due to its rich coastal and marine resources as well as the high quality of services. Outbreaks of harmful algae blooms (HAB) (red tides) due to increased eutrophication as a result of a decline in water quality, however, is posing a serious threat to the amenity values the tourist can appreciate. The amenity values include beach and ocean views, recreation and sport opportunities and facilities, as attractions, among others. To investigate the amenity value of the coastal and marine resources of Abu Dhabi to the beach visitors, we use a contingent valuation assessment after collecting data from a sample of 103 beach visitors. We conducted an econometric analysis to examine factors that potentially affect their behaviour. We determined firstly if the respondents were willing to accept compensation for visiting another beach in the event of an outbreak of HAB and its amount; or in another scenario if they would be willing to pay an annual fee, and its amount, for restoration and mitigation of the beach pollution.The results show that the beach amenity value, therefore, is estimated at between US$8.3million/ha and US$13.8million/ha based on the beach size. Factors such as the travel time from place of current residence the beach, the residence status, the number of beach visits and household size and income have affected the willingness-to-accept (WTA) of the respondents.

The functional intelligences proposition

Why are some governments more effective managers of resources – people, places and finances – and others less effective? This question is at the center of understanding political and economic development. Yet, established theory that explains how individual cognitive differences and sociological forces mutually explain government effectiveness is lacking. To bridge this knowledge gap we articulate the Functional Intelligences Proposition (FIP): The individual level attributes of general intelligence and social intelligence serve unique information processing functions and have a positive and independent effect on the ability of individuals, acting in concert, to govern resources. To begin to evaluate the FIP, we study the effects of general intelligence, social intelligence and social infrastructure (prosocial norms & trust) on how effectively US states govern. We find that measures of general intelligence (estimated by IQ) and social intelligence (social-cognitive theory of mind – ToM – estimated by agreeableness) have a positive and independent effect on the effectiveness of governance. The FIP provides an interdisciplinary explanation for the effectiveness of governance and, ultimately, development.

Determining The Centers of Economic Growth And Regional Development Using Scalogram Analysis (An Empirical Study In West Halmahera Regency, Indonesia)

Each region has potentials and economic advantages that can be used as the source of its regional growth. The capability of each region to promote its own growth depends on its economic competitive advantages. This study is aimed to determine the centers of economic growth and regional development in West Halmahera Regency in the North Moluccas Province. The data used for analysis is secondary data which were collected using documentation method and internet browsing. The method of analysis used is scalogram analysis. The results show that among 9 subdistricts observed in this study, only 4 have the highest scores for socioeconomic infrastructures completeness. The subdistrict located in the central administrative area is the center of growth or growth pole, and the other 3 subdistricts act as the buffer areas. Based on scalogram analysis results, it is found that the growth of each subdistrict is relatively similar, with only 1 subdistrict that shows a relatively more advance growth in Hierarchy II with the highest Index of Subdistrict Growth (ISG) at 21.3433. The other 8 subdistricts are under-developedregions within Hierarchy III with variable Index of Subdistrict Growth (ISG).

DeWitt Clinton and Amos Eaton: Geology and Power in Early New York by David I. Spanagel

Reviewed by: DeWitt Clinton and Amos Eaton: Geology and Power in Early New York by David I. Spanagel Camden Burd DeWitt Clinton and Amos Eaton: Geology and Power in Early New York. By David I. Spanagel. Baltimore, MD: John Hopkins University Press, 2014, 288 pages, $54.95 Cloth. In DeWitt Clinton and Amos Eaton, David I. Spanagel writes a compelling history that blurs the boundaries between science, politics, and the arts in early New York State. Through a history centered mostly on geologist Amos Eaton, the author demonstrates how Eaton’s passion to explore the Earth’s origins helped define New York State as the center of political, economic, scientific, and cultural development in the early nineteenth century. Creatively reading source material, Spanagel depicts a period of scientific exploration situated between natural theology and professionalized science. In this space Governor DeWitt Clinton, driven by his political ambition, married science and politics in an unprecedented manner. The results of the union carried implications beyond the construction of the Erie Canal. Spanagel argues that Eaton and Clinton transformed the relation between science, politics, and broader American culture. Spanagel successfully redeems Eaton’s reputation from a dated historiography that defined his work as derivative and unoriginal. By arguing that Eaton’s contributions lie beyond simple scientific theory, the author describes a dynamic scholar, teacher, and father of American geological study. Through collaboration with Stephen Van Rensselaer, Eaton helped establish the Rensselaer School with a mission to provide technical education to students through his unique hands-on approach to scientific study. Eaton’s efforts as a teacher informed an entirely new generation of thinkers such as William Cullen Bryant, John Torrey, Emma Willard, and Douglas Houghton. Eaton’s approach, with the help of those with financial and [End Page 229] political power, laid the groundwork for what would become a formalized study in nineteenth-century America. The marriage between DeWitt Clinton’s political activity and Eaton’s scientific study created what the author describes as science’s “essential complicity” with Clinton’s goal of internal improvement. Therefore, the advancement of Eaton’s science developed as a result of Clinton’s political ambition (118). Readers of New York History will find themselves refreshed by the new perspective on “Clinton’s Ditch.” Rather than reiterate the canal’s economic significance, or its implications for the settlement of the Great Lakes region, Spanagel demonstrates the ways in which civic action and science changed as a result of the Erie Canal’s construction. Following the opening of the canal, Clinton’s model for internal improvements became a sought out standard by political leaders throughout the Eastern United States. Clinton became a prominent advocate and consultant for canal projects from Ohio to Connecticut. As historians have long suggested, America suffered from canal fever in the 1820s and 1830s. Spanagel situates Clinton at the forefront of the movement, helping to spread his infectious enthusiasm (131). Spanagel effectively conveys the larger implications of Eaton’s science as it developed during his time with the Erie Canal project. Prior to glaciation theory, the prevailing thought on the history of the earth fit into either flood or diluvial theory. This theory, culturally informed by a Christian timeline, explained the earth’s age in reference to Noah’s flood. Eaton, inspired by his British counterparts, struggled to fit diluvial geologic theory onto the New York landscape. As a result, Eaton developed an entirely new nomenclature for minerals he found to be unique to New York State. Modern critics dismiss Eaton’s false assumptions regarding American geology. However, Spanagel argues that Eaton provided the intellectual foundation for later geologists to break away from European theories. In an attempt to discover a distinctive North American system of geology, Eaton’s model encouraged American geologists to organize and create their own system of geologic study that downplayed the significance of Europe’s place as a global authority in geology. Though Eaton’s theories proved ultimately incorrect, Spanagel correctly identifies his desire to prove a distinctive American system of geologic theory as a cultural current that was [End Page 230] pervasive throughout much of American society, attempting to understand what it meant to be “American.” The final...