Decentering the West in the Anthropocene

The Anthropocene, according to Earth System science, denotes the sudden lurch from the relatively stable conditions of the Holocene to the new, precarious and still-unfolding conditions on our altered Earth. Geologists seek globally recognizable markers; Earth Scientists measure global flows of energy, materials, and chemicals, and the loss of biosphere functioning to designate this new epoch. This roundtable explores the response by historians to these findings. Stories centered on the developments and experiences of the West have predominated as causal explanations for the Anthropocene state shift and as templates for understanding its threats and its potential politics. This roundtable seeks to decenter such Eurocentric frameworks by focusing on perspectives from Asia, Africa, and the North American borderlands.

How does the Anthropocene appear when viewed through non-Western lenses? This discussion will examine how approaching the Anthropocene from multiple, diverse vantage points—ones that do not privilege Western places, experiences, narratives, and cultural forms and practices—can reshape our understanding of this epoch.

Despite the recent rejection of the formal Anthropocene designation by the International Commission on Stratigraphy, the concept retains significant analytical power for research, teaching, and public engagement. This roundtable provides a timely opportunity to revisit the Anthropocene with fresh eyes, exploring perspectives from the margins and across multiple scales. By decentering the West as both a geographic place and the primary driver of historical experience in shaping Anthropocene conditions, we aim to foster a more nuanced and globally representative understanding of this complex era.