Development Beyond Neoliberalism? Governance, Poverty Reduction and Political Economy

340 pages. Development's current focus - poverty reduction and good governance - signals a turn away from the older neoliberal preoccupation with structural adjustment, privatization and downsizing the state. For some, the new emphases on empowerin g and securing the poor through basic service delivery, local partnership, decen tralization and institution building constitute a decisive break with the past a nd a whole set of new development possibilities beyond neoliberalism. Taking a wider historical perspective, this book charts the emergence of poverty reducti on and governance at the centre of development. It shows that the Poverty Reduct ion paradigm does indeed mark a shift in the wider liberal project that has unde rpinned development: precisely what is new, and what this means for how the poor are governed, are described here in detail. This book provides a compelling h istory of development doctrine and practice, and in particular offers the first comprehensive account of the last twenty years, and development's shift towards a new political economy of institution building, decentralized governance and lo cal partnerships. The story is illustrated with extensive case studies from firs t hand experience in Vietnam, Uganda, Pakistan and New Zealand. Editorial Revie ws Review For over a decade the consensus about how to do Development has focu sed on market liberalization, overarching juridical and public sector reform, an d local participation in service delivery. Development Beyond Neoliberalism? mou nts a frontal challenge to this consensus, using an unusual mix of empirical arg uments. Recommended for the prejudiced and unprejudiced alike. Robert Hunter Wad e, Professor of Political Economy, Development Studies Institute, London School.…