![Emeritus Professor Geoffrey Lawrence](/sites/default/files/profiles/1120.jpeg)
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:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
1988
Journal Article
The NFF doesn't rule OK?
Lawrence, G. (1988). The NFF doesn't rule OK?. Australian Left Review.
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.
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.
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.
1987
Journal Article
Out of the rural crisis
Lawrence, G (1987). Out of the rural crisis. Australian Society, 6 (6).
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.
1987
Journal Article
McLachlan: Beating up the Bush
Lawrence, G. (1987). McLachlan: Beating up the Bush. Arena, 81.
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.
Funding
Supervision
Availability
- Emeritus Professor Geoffrey Lawrence is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
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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
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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
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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
Doctor Philosophy
Climate Change Adaptation in Southwest Bangladesh: Vulnerability and Gender Inequality
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Adjunct Professor Adil Khan
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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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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Rice, politics and power: the political economy of food insecurity in East Asia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr 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
Regional whole-of-government in Central Queensland: a sociocultural interpretation
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Lynda Cheshire
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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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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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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
Enquiries
Contact Emeritus Professor Geoffrey Lawrence directly for media enquiries about:
- Agriculture - sociology
- Financialisation
- Food security
- Globalisation
- Neoliberalism
- Rural Australia
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