Emeritus Professor Geoffrey Lawrence
Emeritus Professor

Geoffrey Lawrence

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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

Sociology

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

  • 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?

  • 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.

  • 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.

Search Professor Geoffrey Lawrence’s works on UQ eSpace

533 works between 1980 and 2024
All (533) Journal Article (160) Book Chapter (110) Conference Publication (218) Book (29) Other Outputs (12) Edited Outputs (4)

41 - 60 of 533 works

2015

Conference Publication

The financialisation of farming in australasia: land grabbing or rural modernisation?

Lawrence, G., Sippel, S. and Larder, N. (2015). The financialisation of farming in australasia: land grabbing or rural modernisation?. XXII Meeting of the Australasian Agri-food Research Network, Queenstown, New Zealand, 6-9 December 2015.

The financialisation of farming in australasia: land grabbing or rural modernisation?

2015

Conference Publication

Governing resilience to climate risks in the political economy of fresh food supply chains

Muller, J., Lawrence, G. and Brady, M. (2015). Governing resilience to climate risks in the political economy of fresh food supply chains. XXII Meeting of the Australasian Agri-food Research Network, Queenstown, New Zealand, 6-9 December 2015.

Governing resilience to climate risks in the political economy of fresh food supply chains

2015

Book Chapter

The financialisation of food and farming

Lawrence, Geoffrey, Sippel, Sarah Ruth and Burch, David (2015). The financialisation of food and farming. Handbook on the globalization of agriculture. (pp. 309-327) edited by Guy Robinson and Doris Carson. Cheltenham, United Kingdom: Edward Elgar. doi: 10.4337/9780857939838

The financialisation of food and farming

2015

Conference Publication

Neoliberalism's role in promoting the financialisation of agri-food industries: evidence from Australia and South East Asia

Lawrence, G., Kim, C-K., Sippel, S. and Larder, N. (2015). Neoliberalism's role in promoting the financialisation of agri-food industries: evidence from Australia and South East Asia. XXVI Congress of the European Society for Rural Sociology, Aberdeen, Scotland, 18-21 August 2015.

Neoliberalism's role in promoting the financialisation of agri-food industries: evidence from Australia and South East Asia

2015

Book Chapter

The political economy of agri-food: supermarkets

Lawrence, Geoffrey and Dixon, Jane (2015). The political economy of agri-food: supermarkets. Handbook of the International Political Economy of Agriculture and Food. (pp. 213-231) edited by Alessandro Bonanno and Lawrence Busch. Cheltenham, Glos, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing. doi: 10.4337/9781782548263.00019

The political economy of agri-food: supermarkets

2015

Conference Publication

The changing face of Mary: a story of agricultural resilience

Singh-Peterson, L. and Lawrence, G. (2015). The changing face of Mary: a story of agricultural resilience. 2nd International Global Food Security Conference, Ithaca, United States, 11-15 October 2015.

The changing face of Mary: a story of agricultural resilience

2014

Edited Outputs

Rural Society

Rural Society. (2014). 16 (3)

Rural Society

2014

Conference Publication

From Disaster Management to Reflexive Governance? Challenges to the Governance of Australian Food Systems in 'Crisis'

Smith, K. and Lawrence, G. (2014). From Disaster Management to Reflexive Governance? Challenges to the Governance of Australian Food Systems in 'Crisis'. XXI Meeting of the Australasian Agri-food Research Network, Sydney, NSW Australia, 24-26 November 2014.

From Disaster Management to Reflexive Governance? Challenges to the Governance of Australian Food Systems in 'Crisis'

2014

Conference Publication

Negotiating Shifting Land Control: Finance Actors as Land Owners in Rural NSW, Australia

Larder, N., Sippel, S. and Lawrence, G. (2014). Negotiating Shifting Land Control: Finance Actors as Land Owners in Rural NSW, Australia. XXI Meeting of the Australasian Agri-food Research Network, Sydney, NSW Australia, 24-26 November 2014.

Negotiating Shifting Land Control: Finance Actors as Land Owners in Rural NSW, Australia

2014

Conference Publication

Responses to natural disasters in mainstream and alternative fresh produce supply chains in Queensland: exploring resilience and climate risk governance in agri-food systems

Muller, J., Lawrence, G. and Brady, M. (2014). Responses to natural disasters in mainstream and alternative fresh produce supply chains in Queensland: exploring resilience and climate risk governance in agri-food systems. XXI Meeting of the Australasian Agri-food Research Network, Sydney, NSW Australia, 24-26 November 2014.

Responses to natural disasters in mainstream and alternative fresh produce supply chains in Queensland: exploring resilience and climate risk governance in agri-food systems

2014

Journal Article

Governing the impacts of mining and the impacts of mining governance: challenges for rural and regional local governments in Australia

Cheshire, Lynda, Everingham, Jo-Anne and Lawrence, Geoffrey (2014). Governing the impacts of mining and the impacts of mining governance: challenges for rural and regional local governments in Australia. Journal of Rural Studies, 36, 330-339. doi: 10.1016/j.jrurstud.2013.10.010

Governing the impacts of mining and the impacts of mining governance: challenges for rural and regional local governments in Australia

2014

Conference Publication

The Financialisation of Food and Farming in Australia

Sippel, S. and Lawrence, G. (2014). The Financialisation of Food and Farming in Australia. XVIII World Congress of Sociology, Yokohama, Japan, 13-19 July 2014.

The Financialisation of Food and Farming in Australia

2014

Journal Article

Insights into community vulnerability and resilience following natural disasters: perspectives with food retailers in Northern NSW, Australia

Singh-Peterson, Lila and Lawrence, Geoffrey (2014). Insights into community vulnerability and resilience following natural disasters: perspectives with food retailers in Northern NSW, Australia. Local Environment, 20 (7), 782-795. doi: 10.1080/13549839.2013.873396

Insights into community vulnerability and resilience following natural disasters: perspectives with food retailers in Northern NSW, Australia

2014

Conference Publication

Will the 'financialisation' of food and farming provide the basis for a prosperous future for rural Asia?

Lawrence, Geoffrey, Sippel, Sarah Ruth, Larder, Nicolette and DesFours, Lotus (2014). Will the 'financialisation' of food and farming provide the basis for a prosperous future for rural Asia?. ARSA 2014: 5th International Conference of the Asian Rural Sociology Association, Vientiane, Lao, 2-5 September, 2014. Laguna, Philippines: Asian Rural Sociology Association.

Will the 'financialisation' of food and farming provide the basis for a prosperous future for rural Asia?

2014

Book Chapter

Global change and food security: introduction

Lawrence, Geoffrey and McMichael, Philip (2014). Global change and food security: introduction. Global environmental change. (pp. 667-676) edited by Bill Freedman. Dordrecht, Netherlands: Springer Netherlands. doi: 10.1007/978-94-007-5784-4_114

Global change and food security: introduction

2014

Journal Article

Financialization

Lawrence, Geoffrey (2014). Financialization. Journal of Peasant Studies, 41 (3), 421-426. doi: 10.1080/03066150.2014.912429

Financialization

2014

Book Chapter

Neoliberalism in the antipodes: understanding the influence and limits of the neoliberal political project

Lawrence, Geoffrey and Campbell, Hugh (2014). Neoliberalism in the antipodes: understanding the influence and limits of the neoliberal political project. The Neoliberal Regime in Agri-food: Crisis, Resilience and Restructuring. (pp. 263-283) edited by Steven A. Wolfe and Alessandro Bonanno. Abingdon, Oxon, England: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9780203583111

Neoliberalism in the antipodes: understanding the influence and limits of the neoliberal political project

2014

Journal Article

Flooding and food security: a case study of community vulnerability and resilience in Rockhampton

Smith, Kiah and Lawrence, Geoffrey (2014). Flooding and food security: a case study of community vulnerability and resilience in Rockhampton. Rural Society, 23 (3), 215-227. doi: 10.1080/10371656.2014.11082066

Flooding and food security: a case study of community vulnerability and resilience in Rockhampton

2013

Conference Publication

Flooding and Food Security: A Case Study of Community Resilience in Rockhampton, Australia

Smith, K. and Lawrence, G. (2013). Flooding and Food Security: A Case Study of Community Resilience in Rockhampton, Australia. XX Meeting of the Australasian Agri-food Research Network, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 1-5 December 2013.

Flooding and Food Security: A Case Study of Community Resilience in Rockhampton, Australia

2013

Conference Publication

Recovery and Resilience in Horticultural Farms Following Recurrent Natural Disasters: What are the Implications for Australia's Food Security

Muller, J., Lawrence, G. and Brady, M. (2013). Recovery and Resilience in Horticultural Farms Following Recurrent Natural Disasters: What are the Implications for Australia's Food Security. XX Meeting of the Australasian Agri-food Research Network, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 1-5 December 2013.

Recovery and Resilience in Horticultural Farms Following Recurrent Natural Disasters: What are the Implications for Australia's Food Security

Past funding

  • 2016 - 2021
    Food, Farming and Financialisation: Agri-food Transformations in Australia
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2019
    Frogs, fuel, finance or food? Cultures, values, ethics, arguments and justifications in the management of agricultural land (FORFOOD)
    Centre for Rural Research
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    Governing Food Security in Australia in an Era of Climate Change: A Sociological Analysis
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2015
    The New Farm Owners: Finance Companies and the Restructuring of Australian and Global Agriculture
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2011
    Local government, mining companies and resources development in regional Australia: meeting the governance challenge
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2011
    Globally Engaged? Responses to Neoliberal Globalisation among Family Farmers in Australia
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2008
    Review of the Community Futures Task Force (Stage 1)
    Community Futures Task Force Unit
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2011
    From Seedling to Supermarket: The Social and Environmental Implications for Australia of the Restructuring of Agri-food Supply Chains
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2005 - 2009
    ARC Research Network in Spatially Integrated Social Science
    ARC Research Networks
    Open grant
  • 2004 - 2006
    Organics, environment and sustainability
    Griffith University
    Open grant
  • 2004 - 2006
    Agri-food Applications of Genetically-Modified Organisms: Public Perceptions Risk and Sustainability
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2003 - 2006
    Building sustainable social capital in new communities.
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2003 - 2006
    Engaged government: a study of government-community engagement for regional outcomes
    Griffith University
    Open grant
  • 2003
    The social construct of safe foods: Uncertainty, risk and trust in agri-food applications of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)
    University of Queensland Research Development Grants Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2002 - 2003
    An Analysis of the Patterns of Consumption, Community Impacts and Returns on Investment of Rural Popular Cultural Activities
    UQ FirstLink Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2002 - 2006
    Governance, institutional capacity and regional planning: A Central Queensland case study.
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2002 - 2005
    Farmer adoption of sustainable land management practices in the Fitzroy Basin, Central Queensland.
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2001 - 2002
    The Sustainability of Australian Rural Communities
    Academy of Social Sciences
    Open grant

Availability

Emeritus Professor Geoffrey Lawrence is:
Not available for supervision

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Climate Change in Rural Fiji: Reproduction, Erosion and Limitations of Social Resilience in Intercultural Domains

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Richard Martin, Dr Kim de Rijke

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Climate Change in Rural Fiji: Reproduction, Erosion and Limitations of Social Resilience in Intercultural Domains

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Richard Martin, Dr Kim de Rijke

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Climate Change in Rural Fiji: Reproduction, Erosion and Limitations of Social Resilience in Intercultural Domains

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Richard Martin, Dr Kim de Rijke

Completed supervision

Enquiries

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