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 completely 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.

Table of Contents

Preface to the Third EditionIntroductionChapter 1 - Definitions of DevelopmentChapter 2 - Metamorphoses of a Western MythChapter 3 - The Making of a World SystemChapter 4 - The Invention of DevelopmentChapter 5 - The International Doctrine and Institutions Take RootChapter 6 - Modernization Poised between History and ProphecyChapter 7 - The Periphery and the Understanding of HistoryChapter 8 - Self-Reliance: The Communal Past as a Model for the FutureChapter 9 - The Triumph of Third WorldismChapter 10 - The Environment, or the New Nature of 'Development' Chapter 11 - A Mixture of Realism and Fine SentimentsChapter 12 - The Postmodern Illusion: Globalization as a Simulacrum of 'Development'Chapter 13 - The Fight against Poverty and the Millennium Development GoalsChapter 14 - Post-Development: Decroissance and the Changing Economic Paradigm ConclusionBibliographyIndex

About the Author

Gilbert Rist is a Professor at the Graduate Institute of Development Studies (IUED) in Geneva. He previously taught in Geneva, and spent several years as Director of the Centre Europe-Tiers Monde. His other publications include La Mondialisation des anti-societes (1997); La Culture, otage du developpement? (1992); La Mythologie programme (1992); Le Nord perdu (1992) and Il etait une fois le development (1986). The History of Development was his first book to be translated into English, and has also been published in Spanish and Italian.

Reviews

Praise for previous editions:'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 readingA...Rist's books, 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 mist 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