Developing One's Brother

This volume explores the concept and practice of "development", of people, not property...particularly development funded by foreign aid - your taxes assessed by the government, your contributions to charitable organizations - directed at developing your brothers and sisters in the poorer parts of the world. Where does the money go? And why does it go there? It is an exploration of the dark side of development. Like the other non-bright side of the moon that we never see. Witness the frailties, the hypocrisies of the organizations "helping" the poor. Caution: This volume may read like fiction, but it is not. It is that truth on the other unseen side. It may appear tongue-in-cheek, but it is sadly, albeit humorously, serious. The humor is inherent in the practice. The bitter taste it may leave in your mouth is that of a tongue bitten by teeth attempting to grin and bear it.

Somsak J. has played a very minor role in the very major industry of development assistance for almost 30 years, extracting a portion of the funds good citizens have voluntarily and involuntarily contributed to foreign aid and the uplifting of the poor. He has run the gamut (gauntlet?) from young idealist to aging curmudgeon, and published reports and thoughts on so-called "development" in newspapers and magazines in the Far East and a journal in Europe. Why he's even presented this in national and international conferences, and tried to teach students at the university about it. Alas...Throughout this period, he admits to being part of the problem.