The History of Development: From Western Origins to Global Faith, 4th Edition (Development Essentials)

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1783600225 ISBN 13: 9781783600229

Publisher: Zed Books, 2014

In The History of Development, Gilbert Rist provides a complete and powerful overview of what the idea of  development has meant throughout history. He traces it from its origins in the Western view of history, through  the early stages of the world system, the rise of US hegemony, the supposed triumph of the third world, through to new concerns about the environment and globalization. In two new chapters on the Millennium  Development Goals and post-development thinking, Rist brings the book completely up to date. Throughout,  he argues persuasively that development has been no more than a collective delusion, which in reality has only resulted in widening market relations, despite the good intentions of its advocates.

Lucidly and powerfully written, this new edition is more essential than ever for students and practitioners of development.

About the Author:

Gilbert Rist is professor emeritus at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva.

Review:

"If you want to understand the ideological forces that have shaped North-South relations for half a century, you need this remarkable book." - Susan George

"Compelling and exciting reading... Rist's book, written with deliciously mild irony, is an account of the most crucial moments in which the rites of a belief embraced by millions were elaborated and canonized." - European Journal of Development Research

"This book does an outstanding job." - Journal of Developing Areas

"This book is one of the most astute of its genre available today... exact in its scholarship and profound in its clear account of the philosophies and consequences of the Western example." - Rapport