The Future of Industrialization
Development at a Crossroads
Gerd Mueller(Author)
Anthem Press
Will be published approx. on 14. July 2026
Book
Hardback
200 pages
978-1-80136-078-4 (ISBN)
Description
Industrialization built the modern world. But can it sustain the future? The Future of Industrialization offers an intellectually rigorous and forward-looking exploration of how industry must transform in an era defined by climate constraints, digital and technological disruption, geopolitical shifts, and widening inequality. Moving beyond incremental reform, this volume argues for a new paradigm of industrial development. Bringing together heads of state, global policymakers, UN leaders, CEOs, and leading academics, the book combines strategic vision with policy depth. Rather than offering theory, the volume presents grounded analysis, diverse regional perspectives from North and South, best practices, and actionable policy solutions. At its core, the book argues that industrial development must be reoriented toward sustainability, inclusiveness, resilience, and innovation. Structured around five interconnected pillars-(1) global governance frameworks; (2) food security and agro-industrial transformation; (3) sustainable and fair supply chains; (4) climate action, clean energy, and industrial decarbonization; and (5) digitalization and artificial intelligence in manufacturing-it develops actionable policy implementation strategies combining normative ambition with economic realism. Anchored in UNIDO's mandate and aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, the volume serves as both intellectual compass and practical guide: how to turn sustainability into competitive advantage, climate action into industrial opportunity, digitalization into inclusive innovation, and global cooperation into shared prosperity. Essential reading for policymakers, scholars, development practitioners, and industry leaders, this book invites readers to rethink industrialization as a cornerstone of a just and sustainable global economic order.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 20 mm
Weight
454 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-80136-078-4 (9781801360784)
Copyright in bibliographic data is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or its licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Gerd Mueller is Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and former Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development. Mueller stands for fair globalization, fair global value chains and a new global deal for sustainable industrialization and job creation, one that mobilizes significant investments in a resilient future for the Global South. Central to this is the question of how to decouple necessary economic growth and universal access to energy from rising emissions. He emphasizes that the potential for solutions to development challenges and technological leapfrogging is unprecedented and must be a shared global priority.