The Myth of Development
Non-Viable Economies and the Crisis of Civilization
2nd Edition
Published on 12. August 2010
173 pages
978-1-84813-585-7 (ISBN)
Description
The message of this courageous classic book is that the benefits of development, so long promised over the past sixty years, have not come about for most people. Nor are they going to.
State-driven and market-led development models have both failed. Many countries, and their cities in particular, are collapsing into 'ungovernable chaotic entities' under the control of warlords and mafias. Oswaldo de Rivero argues that the 'wealth of nations' agenda must be replaced by a 'survival of nations' agenda. In order to prevent increasing human misery and political disorder, many countries must abandon dreams of development and adopt instead a policy of national survival based on providing basic water, food and energy, and stabilizing their populations.
This much-anticipated new edition features both updated statistics and fresh material, including an essential new argument that the present global crisis is not simply economic but a much more profound crisis of 'the California Model': a crisis of our way of life and of our unsustainable global urban civilization.
State-driven and market-led development models have both failed. Many countries, and their cities in particular, are collapsing into 'ungovernable chaotic entities' under the control of warlords and mafias. Oswaldo de Rivero argues that the 'wealth of nations' agenda must be replaced by a 'survival of nations' agenda. In order to prevent increasing human misery and political disorder, many countries must abandon dreams of development and adopt instead a policy of national survival based on providing basic water, food and energy, and stabilizing their populations.
This much-anticipated new edition features both updated statistics and fresh material, including an essential new argument that the present global crisis is not simply economic but a much more profound crisis of 'the California Model': a crisis of our way of life and of our unsustainable global urban civilization.
Reviews / Votes
Highly readable, The Development Myth is a useful tool for understanding the enormous problems for survival that will have to be faced by the poverty-stricken, exploding urban populations of the wrongly called "developing countries". * Javier Perez de Cuellar, United Nations * Bristling with new ideas, the author provides us with an intelligent way into understanding better the world's present disorders. * Le Monde Diplomatique * This provocative and well-written book may stimulate discussion and promote sound survival and development policies. * The Choice *More details
Series
Edition
2nd edition
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
ISBN-13
978-1-84813-585-7 (9781848135857)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
New editions
E-Book
09/2019
3rd Edition
Zed Books Ltd
€100.99
Available for download
Additional editions
Book
08/2010
2nd Edition
Zed Books Ltd
€45.99
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Person
Oswaldo de Rivero is a Diplomat, Ambassador (retired) with the Foreign Service of Peru. He has served in London, Moscow, Geneva and New York; as Peru's Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization (WTO), to the United Nations Offices in Geneva and New York and on the United Nations Security Council. He graduated from the Peruvian Diplomatic Academy and carried out Postgraduate studies at the Graduate Institute for International Studies, Geneva. He is the author of: "International Development Law and New International Economic Order"; El Mito del Desarrollo; Fondo de Cultura Economica, Mexico, published in English as 'The Myth of Development' by Zedbooks, London, United Kingdom, has been translated into French, Portuguese, Arabic, Japanese and Turkish. Has written numerous essays and articles in Le Monde Diplomatique, The UNESCO Courier, as well as the written press in Geneva and Latin America.
Content
Introduction
1. The Twilight of the Nation-State
2. Global Empowerment and National Impoverishment
3. International Darwinism
4. The Search for El Dorado
5. Human and Natural Depredation
6. The Crisis of the California Model
Index
1. The Twilight of the Nation-State
2. Global Empowerment and National Impoverishment
3. International Darwinism
4. The Search for El Dorado
5. Human and Natural Depredation
6. The Crisis of the California Model
Index
