Utopian Legacies: A History of Conquest and Oppression in the Western World

by John Mohawk

Traces the role of utopian thinking as the rationale for religious wars, subjugation of indigenous peoples, genocide, enslavement, plunder, economic domination, and campaigns of world conquest. This work examines the hidden dynamic within utopian thinking and the danger it poses when it is adopted by groups who use it to serve their own interests.

Genres: History, Indigenous, Nonfiction

287 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1999

About the author

John Mohawk, a leading scholar and spokesman for the Six Nations Iroquois Confederacy, was a leading advocate for the rights of the Iroquois Confederacy and of indigenous people worldwide. He served as director of Indigenous Studies at the Center for the Americas at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Mohawk was also director of the Iroquois White Corn Project, which promoted and sold Iroquois white corn products and foods and supported contemporary indigenous farmers. John Mohawk was the editor of Akewsasne Notes, a columnist at Indian Country Today and his last book was "Utopian Legacies: A History of Conquest & Oppression in the Western World."

Reviews

[joshua]

This book was great. How many times have you come up with some utopian scenario for you or your people? In those fantasies, how often have you considered who would be affected by your utopia? Most of these utopian dreams that are used to make a people come at the expense of other people. John Mohawk taught me a lot in this book. If you are touchy about empires getting the light shined on them (even the US), you might want to make sure you pray before each time you read this.

[Bob Finch]

A well-written cruise through history emphasizing the reality of movements intent on imposing their utopian visions. "The road to Hell …." Not an in-depth treatment, but a very good survey, except the penultimate chapter, which came off as a data-dump of sorts. But overall a good read and poignant reminder of Western civilization's dark and violent past … and present, so much in the name of good intentions (narrowly defined, of course).

[Marion Delaronde]

I found this book hard to put down, except during the break I needed when the history became too disgusting to read about. Managed to finish it, gladly.

He brings it all together from the perspective of Haudenosaunee people (Iroquois, as known to most people).

This man had a vast knowledge of Haudenosaunee social structure, myths and customs, (but he doesn't impart this information in this book).

[Donna L. Long]

Mr. Mohawk has provided a framework to view family history and the lingering philosophy and effects of European colonialism.

The impetus behind creating non-threatening subdued peoples by wiping out indigenous philosophy, religion and ways of life is explained in detail and with numerous historical examples.