Understanding Development: Theory and Practice in the Third World

Updated to reflect trends in world affairs, as well as in the scholarly literature, this text is both an assessment of the state of development theory and a survey of structural adjustment's results throughout the developing world. John Rapley traces the evolution of development theory from its strong statist orientation in the early post-war period, through the "classic" phase, to the middle-of-the-road position of the beginning of the 21st century, drawing attention to the inadequacy of existing modes. Using a wide range of examples, he shows where, how and why various approaches to development have worked, or failed. He concludes with a look at one of the most disturbing subjects that theorists and practitioners alike must tackle: why development appears to be so far out of reach for so many poor countries.