Overview
Background
Geoff is a leading Australian sociologist with interests in rural and regional sociology, globalisation/localisation and agrifood research.
He attended James Ruse Agricultural High School in Sydney and was School Captain in 1968. He then completed a degree in agricultural economics at Sydney University in 1972. This was followed by a diploma in social science (UNE), Master of Science in Sociology (Wisconisn-Madison) and a PhD (Griffith). In 1992 he became Associate Professor of Sociology and Foundation Director, Centre for Rural Social Research, at Charles Sturt University before moving later that year to Central Queensland University as Foundation Professor of Sociology (1992-2002) and Executive Director, Institute for Sustainable Regional Development (1998-2002). He joined The University of Queensland as Professor of Sociology and Head of the School of Social Science in 2002. He is a Life Member of the Fitzroy Basin Association, a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia, Life Member of the Australian Sociological Association, and was President of the International Rural Sociology Association (2012-2016). He became Emeritus Professor of Sociology at the University of Queensland in 2014.
His full profile can be seen at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Lawrence_(sociologist)
Availability
- Emeritus Professor Geoffrey Lawrence is:
- Not available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science, University of Sydney
- Postgraduate Diploma, University of New England Australia
- Masters (Coursework) of Science, University of Wisconsin
- Doctor of Philosophy, Griffith University
Research interests
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Agriculture, the Environment and the Politics of Sustainability
The questions are: To what extent is 'greening' and green politics influencing the course of agricultural development and resulting in policies aimed at reducing ecological destruction? What is the nature of the debates and theorisations regarding productivism/post-productivism in the rural landscapes of advance economies? In a practical sense, how is it possible to ensure that current and future natural resource management will provide sustainable outcomes for society?
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Globalisation, Localisation and Restructuring of Regional Australia
This is a broad area whcih includes an examination of the social affects of economic change upon regions and highlights town decline, poverty, unemployment and ill-health - as well as the 'ingredients' for successful community development and the enhancement of social capital. Issues of empowerment and governance are crucial to the understanding of the future of the regions. The issue of global/local relations is also of significance - particularly as Australian governments seek to promote 'self help' and 'partnership' options.
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Financialisation of Food and Farming
Finance capital is playing an increasingly important role in food and farming industries. Entities like merchant banks, sovereign wealth funds, private equity firms and hedge funds are purchasing farmlands and agribusinesses in an effort to increase returns to shareholders. However, some of these activities are speculative and lead to food price distortions; others impact upon traditional owners when so-called 'land grabs' force producers from their farms. 'Financialisation' is seen as being as important as globalisation and neoliberalism in altering the face of food and farming.
Works
Search Professor Geoffrey Lawrence’s works on UQ eSpace
2004
Book Chapter
Foreword
Lawrence, G. (2004). Foreword. Social Innovations in Natural Resource Management Handbook. (pp. i-ii) Brisbane, QLD Australia: Department of Natural Resources and Mines.
2004
Other Outputs
Technical Review of the CQ Strategy for Sustainability 2.
Lawrence, Geoffrey A. (2004). Technical Review of the CQ Strategy for Sustainability 2.. Rockhampton: The Fitzroy Basin Association.
2004
Book
Recoding nature: Critical perspectives on genetic engineering
Richard Hindmarsh and Geoffrey Lawrence eds. (2004). Recoding nature: Critical perspectives on genetic engineering. Sydney, Australia: UNSW Press.
2004
Journal Article
The end of the rural
Lawrence, G. A. (2004). The end of the rural. Nexus, 16 (1), 13-14.
2004
Conference Publication
Promoting sustainable development: The question of governance. Plenary address
Lawrence, G. A. (2004). Promoting sustainable development: The question of governance. Plenary address. XI World Congress of Rural Sociology, Trondheim, Norway, 25-30 July, 2004. USA: International Rural Sociology Assoc.
2004
Book Chapter
Foreword
Lawrence, G. A. (2004). Foreword. Social Innovations in Natural Resource Management Handbook. (pp. i-ii) edited by C. Richards and L. Atikens. Qld: Dept Natural Resources & MInes, Qld.
2004
Book Chapter
Contrasting paths of corporate greening in Antipodean agriculture: Organics and green production
Lyons, K., Burch, D., Lawrence, G. A. and Lockie, S. (2004). Contrasting paths of corporate greening in Antipodean agriculture: Organics and green production. Agribusiness and society: Corporate responses to environmentalism, market opportunities and public regulation. (pp. 91-113) edited by K. Jansen and S. Vellema. London: Zed Books.
2004
Journal Article
Choosing organics: A path analysis of factors underlying the selection of organic food among Australian consumers
Lockie, S., Lyons, K., Lawrence, G. A. and Grice, J. C. (2004). Choosing organics: A path analysis of factors underlying the selection of organic food among Australian consumers. Appetite, 43 (2), 135-146. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2004.02.004
2004
Book Chapter
The social consequences of the rural reform agenda
Lawrence, G. A. and Cheshire, L. A. (2004). The social consequences of the rural reform agenda. The Politics of Australian Society: Political Issues for the New Century. (pp. 338-356) edited by P. Boreham, G. Stokes and R. Hall. Frenchs Forest, NSW: Pearson Longman.
2004
Conference Publication
Whither rural protest? Responses to Globalisation and restructuring in contemporary rural Australia
Lawrence, G. A. and Cheshire, L. A. (2004). Whither rural protest? Responses to Globalisation and restructuring in contemporary rural Australia. Annual Conference Australian Sociological Assoc, La Trobe Campus, Beechworth, Victoria, 8-11 December, 2004. Australia: Aust Sociological Assoc.
2003
Book
Globalisation, localization and sustainable livelihoods
Reidar Almas and Geoffrey Lawrence eds. (2003). Globalisation, localization and sustainable livelihoods. Abingdon, Oxon, United Kingdom: Taylor and Francis. doi: 10.4324/9781315194240
2003
Conference Publication
Consumer surveys of biotechnology: asking questions until we get the right answers or empowering the public to express their own opinions?
Grice, J. and Lawrence, G. (2003). Consumer surveys of biotechnology: asking questions until we get the right answers or empowering the public to express their own opinions?. X Conference of the Australasian Agri-food Research Network, Akaroa, New Zealand, 21-24 April 2003.
2003
Conference Publication
Regional restructuring, neoliberalism, individualisation and the community: the recent Australian experience
Lawrence, G. and Herbert-Cheshire, L. (2003). Regional restructuring, neoliberalism, individualisation and the community: the recent Australian experience. Congress of the European Society for Rural Sociology, Sligo, Ireland, 18-23 August 2003.
2003
Conference Publication
'It's that Catch 22': overgrazing today and tomorrow
Moffatt, J. and Lawrence, G. (2003). 'It's that Catch 22': overgrazing today and tomorrow. Annual Conference of the Australian Sociological Association, Armidale, NSW, Australia, 4-6 December 2003.
2003
Conference Publication
Sustainable regional development: recovering lost ground
Lawrence, G. (2003). Sustainable regional development: recovering lost ground. The Social Dimensions of the Triple Bottom Line: One Day Seminar for Researchers, Canberra, Australia, 26 February 2003.
2003
Conference Publication
Capacity building, governance and uncertainty for Australian rural communities
Gray, I. and Lawrence, G. (2003). Capacity building, governance and uncertainty for Australian rural communities. Strengthening Community Competence for Social Development: Asia-Pacific Perspectives, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 6-10 October, 2003. Thailand: Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Naresuan University.
2003
Book Chapter
Assessing the neoliberal experiment in Antipodean agriculture
Campbell, H. and Lawrence, G. A. (2003). Assessing the neoliberal experiment in Antipodean agriculture. Globalization, Localization and Sustainable Livelihoods. (pp. 89-101) edited by R. Almas and G. Lawrence. Aldershot, England: Ashgate. doi: 10.4324/9781315194240
2003
Book Chapter
Monto, Queensland
Cheshire, L. A. and Lawrence, G. A. (2003). Monto, Queensland. Community Sustainability in Rural Australia: A Question of Capital?. (pp. 10-37) edited by C. Cocklin and M. Alston. Wagga Wagga: Centre for Rural Res., Charles Sturt Univ.
2003
Conference Publication
The environmental enigma: why do producers professing stewardship continue to practice poor natural resource management?
Lawrence, G., Richards, C. and Herbert-Cheshire, L. (2003). The environmental enigma: why do producers professing stewardship continue to practice poor natural resource management?. Xth Conference of the Australasian Agri-food Research Network, Akaroa, New Zealand, 21-24 April 2003.
2003
Conference Publication
The regional promise
Lawrence, G. (2003). The regional promise. Forum of the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand, 'Community-based Regional Planning: Are we Getting it Right?', Brisbane, Australia, 18 September 2003.
Funding
Supervision
Availability
- Emeritus Professor Geoffrey Lawrence is:
- Not available for supervision
Supervision history
Completed supervision
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Financialization and the restructuring of agriculture in Tanzania: Global finance and the takeover of farmland
Principal Advisor
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Agri-food transformations in Northern Australia: The work of local actors in mediating financial investments
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Kiah Smith
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2017
Master Philosophy
Cultivating climate change resilience in agri-food systems: Responses to natural disasters and emerging climate risks in Queensland's fresh produce supply chains
Principal Advisor
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Climate Change Adaptation in Southwest Bangladesh: Vulnerability and Gender Inequality
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Adjunct Professor Adil Khan
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Rice, politics and power: the political economy of food insecurity in East Asia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Melissa Curley
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
The production of audit assurance: Unintended consequences of retailer governance in the Australian food system
Principal Advisor
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2012
Doctor Philosophy
Environmental Governance in Rural Regions: A critical-interpretive perspective on policy implementation in Australia
Principal Advisor
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2011
Doctor Philosophy
Contesting 'ethicality': Ethical trade, gender and sustainable livelihoods for smallholder farmers in Kenya
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Kristen Lyons
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2010
Doctor Philosophy
Lakeside living - realising dreams in a master planned community
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Lynda Cheshire
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2010
Doctor Philosophy
Regional whole-of-government in Central Queensland: a sociocultural interpretation
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Lynda Cheshire
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2008
Doctor Philosophy
Transformation of the Australian Beef Industry: Integrating Political Economy and Sociocultural Approaches to Agri-Food Restructuring
Principal Advisor
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2007
Doctor Philosophy
ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE CATTLE GRAZING WITHIN A CULTURE OF PRODUCTIVISM? A SOCIOLOGICAL STUDY OF BROADSCALE BEEF PRODUCTION IN CENTRAL QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Lynda Cheshire
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2007
Doctor Philosophy
REGIONAL PLANNING AS GOOD GOVERNANCE: A CENTRAL QUEENSLAND CASE STUDY
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Lynda Cheshire
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2025
Doctor Philosophy
Cultural Reproduction, Loss and Limitations of Indigenous Traditions of Social Resilience in Rural Fiji.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Richard Martin, Dr Kim de Rijke
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2018
Master Philosophy
What is food in the food regime?: Remaking food and markets in a time of crisis
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Kristen Lyons
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
Resonance of the land grabbing frame in Mali, West Africa: A social movements and political ecology perspective
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Kristen Lyons
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2009
Doctor Philosophy
It's for love not money: Queensland graziers' perceptions of sustainable development
Associate Advisor
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2008
Doctor Philosophy
Growing old in Springfield Lakes: the possibility of community in a new suburb
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Lynda Cheshire
Media
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