Despotic Dominion Property Rights In British Settler Societies

In the late 18th century, the English jurist William Blackstone famously described property as "that sole and despotic dominion." The ambiguity of "property" connoted in Blackstone's phrase forms the central theme of this book. Despotic Dominion examines the evolution of property law in several former British colonies within the broader political, economic, social, and intellectual cultures of those societies. It draws from litigation and political action related to Aboriginal title and other disputes over property rights in settled colonies of the Empire. The contributors consider how the land was perceived by indigenous peoples, colonial officials, and settlers; how these groups viewed their relationship with the land; and how local interests conflicted with one another and with centralizing notions of law and justice. This book provides a comprehensive analysis of the important issue of property rights, which continues to animate the body politic of Australia and Canada in particular. It will be of interest to students and scholars of colonial history, property theory, indigenous studies, and law, as well as to judges, lawyers, and the general reader.McLaren, John is the author of 'Despotic Dominion Property Rights In British Settler Societies', published 2005 under ISBN 9780774810722 and ISBN 0774810726.