Alaska: An American Colony

Arguing that the common theme that links the Russian and American eras of Alaskan history is colonialism, Haycox (history, U. of Alaska Anchorage) presents a narrative history of post-European-contact Alaska. Colonialism has meant a lack of economic self-sufficiency that created a diminishing capability of Native people to maintain their culture and self-determination and an inability of non-Native populations to make their own political and economic judgments over the objectives of absentee investors. Another major theme running through the narrative is the impact of outside cultures on the development of Alaskan society. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)