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:
Available for supervision
Media expert

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

532 works between 1980 and 2022
All (532) Journal Article (163) Book Chapter (110) Conference Publication (218) Book (28) Other Outputs (9) Edited Outputs (4)

481 - 500 of 532 works

1989

Conference Publication

A sociological perspective on change in Agriculture

Lawrence, G. (1989). A sociological perspective on change in Agriculture. Farming as a Business Conference, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia, 11-13 September 1989.

A sociological perspective on change in Agriculture

1989

Book Chapter

Structural change in rural Australia: community concerns

Lawrence, G. (1989). Structural change in rural Australia: community concerns. The Murray-Darling Basin Commission: the community response. edited by Department of Primary Industries and Energy. Canberra, ACT, Australia: Australian Government Publishing Service.

Structural change in rural Australia: community concerns

1989

Conference Publication

Rural social research in Australia: issues for the 1990s

Lawrence, G., Gray, I. and Share, P. (1989). Rural social research in Australia: issues for the 1990s. Annual Conference of the Australian Sociological Association, Melbourne, Australia, 8-12 December 1989.

Rural social research in Australia: issues for the 1990s

1989

Journal Article

Genetic engineering and Australian agriculture: the agenda for corporate control

Lawrence, Geoffrey (1989). Genetic engineering and Australian agriculture: the agenda for corporate control. Journal of Australian Political Economy, 25, 1-17.

Genetic engineering and Australian agriculture: the agenda for corporate control

1989

Book Chapter

The rural crisis downunder: Australia’s declining fortunes in the global farm economy

Lawrence, Geoffrey (1989). The rural crisis downunder: Australia’s declining fortunes in the global farm economy. The international farm crisis. (pp. 234-274) New York, NY USA: Palgrave Macmillan. doi: 10.1007/978-1-349-10332-4_10

The rural crisis downunder: Australia’s declining fortunes in the global farm economy

1989

Journal Article

Agricultural restructuring and rural settlements

Lawrence, Geoffrey (1989). Agricultural restructuring and rural settlements. Urban Policy and Research, 7 (3), 129-131. doi: 10.1080/08111148908551400

Agricultural restructuring and rural settlements

1989

Conference Publication

Problems of Australian rural communities

Lawrence, G. (1989). Problems of Australian rural communities. National Youth Advocacy Conference, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia, 24-25 September 1989.

Problems of Australian rural communities

1988

Conference Publication

Agriculture, the environment and social change in Australia - and crisis on the farm: why, and what can be done?

Lawrence, G. (1988). Agriculture, the environment and social change in Australia - and crisis on the farm: why, and what can be done?. Remaking Australia Conference, Melbourne, Australia, 12-14 March 1988.

Agriculture, the environment and social change in Australia - and crisis on the farm: why, and what can be done?

1988

Conference Publication

Keynote Address: Agribusiness: past, present and future

Lawrence, G. (1988). Keynote Address: Agribusiness: past, present and future. National Outlook Conference, Sydney, Australia, 26 November 1988.

Keynote Address: Agribusiness: past, present and future

1988

Conference Publication

Structural change in Australian agriculture: the impact of agri-genetics

Lawrence, G. (1988). Structural change in Australian agriculture: the impact of agri-genetics. Annual Conference of the Sociological Association of Australia and New Zealand, Canberra, Australia, 28 November - 2 December 1988.

Structural change in Australian agriculture: the impact of agri-genetics

1988

Conference Publication

Organisation and control: the social, economic and political future for Australian agriculture

Lawrence, G. (1988). Organisation and control: the social, economic and political future for Australian agriculture. Conference on 'A Vision for Australian Agriculture in the 21st Century', Richmond, NSW, Australia, 10 April 1988.

Organisation and control: the social, economic and political future for Australian agriculture

1988

Conference Publication

The impact of technology on Australian farming and rural society

Lawrence, G. (1988). The impact of technology on Australian farming and rural society. Conference of the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science, Adelaide, SA, Australia, 6 May 1988.

The impact of technology on Australian farming and rural society

1988

Journal Article

The NFF doesn't rule OK?

Lawrence, G. (1988). The NFF doesn't rule OK?. Australian Left Review.

The NFF doesn't rule OK?

1987

Conference Publication

The Ideology of the New Right and its potential impact upon rural Australia

Lawrence, G. (1987). The Ideology of the New Right and its potential impact upon rural Australia. Community Fightback Conference, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia, 8 March 1987.

The Ideology of the New Right and its potential impact upon rural Australia

1987

Conference Publication

The future of sports history: a sociological perspective

Lawrence, G. (1987). The future of sports history: a sociological perspective. Conference of the Australian Society for Sports History, Melbourne, Australia, 18-22 May 1987.

The future of sports history: a sociological perspective

1987

Book

Capitalism and the countryside: The rural crisis in Australia

Lawrence, Geoffrey (1987). Capitalism and the countryside: The rural crisis in Australia. Sydney: Pluto Press.

Capitalism and the countryside: The rural crisis in Australia

1987

Journal Article

Out of the rural crisis

Lawrence, G (1987). Out of the rural crisis. Australian Society, 6 (6).

Out of the rural crisis

1987

Conference Publication

Capital accumulation and Australian agriculture

Lawrence, G. (1987). Capital accumulation and Australian agriculture. Annual Conference of the Sociological Association of Australia and New Zealand, Sydney, Australia, 14-17 July 1987.

Capital accumulation and Australian agriculture

1987

Journal Article

McLachlan: Beating up the Bush

Lawrence, G. (1987). McLachlan: Beating up the Bush. Arena, 81.

McLachlan: Beating up the Bush

1986

Book Chapter

It's just not cricket!

Lawrence, G. (1986). It's just not cricket!. Power play: essays in the sociology of Australian sport. (pp. 151-165) edited by G. Lawrence and D. Rowe. Sydney, NSW, Australia: Hale and Iremonger.

It's just not cricket!

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:
Available for supervision

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Available projects

  • Students can be involved in work on ARC and other projects exploring:

    Structural change in agriculture; changes power relations along agri-food chains; the financialisation of food and farming.

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

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Emeritus Professor Geoffrey Lawrence directly for media enquiries about:

  • Agriculture - sociology
  • Financialisation
  • Food security
  • Globalisation
  • Neoliberalism
  • Rural Australia

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