Islands of the Anthropocene

Abstract

The accelerating and intensifying dynamics of the Anthropocene are highly topical for island studies. Manifold effects of urbanisation, offshoring, migration and climate change become heightened in the context of island spatiality as global connections, fascination and conservation ideals produce tax havens, mass tourism, ecological enclaves and novel island ecosystems. The Anthropocene calls for a rethinking of relations between humans and nature. Recent research highlights the usefulness of islands in providing models of intensely coupled human–environmental systems. However, there is little research about where and how forces of the Anthropocene and natural dynamics physically intersect and how island spatiality intervenes. Contributing to a better understanding of island landscapes and seascapes, this paper explores how the scales and volumes of the Anthropocene shape spaces in small islands. In considering islands’ characteristics of smallness, borders, isolation and littorality, the paper illustrates the distinct spatial developments on islands in the Anthropocene, such as resort sprawl, airports and artificial coastlines. The observations demonstrate how forces of the Anthropocene challenge island isolation, stretch and reshape island borders. They manipulate islands’ smallness and congest small island spaces, and intervene in the manageability of island systems. Furthermore, developments of the Anthropocene highlight the paradoxical and hybrid nature of islands. I suggest that developing and better understanding concepts of island spatiality can be meaningful for informing future spatial transformation in, and for adopting contextualised approaches to, both islands and the Anthropocene.