International Development: A Postwar History

Description

International Development: A Postwar History offers the first concise historical overview of international development policies and practices in the 20th century. Embracing a longue durée perspective, the book describes the emergence of the development field at the intersection of late colonialism, the Second World War, the onset of decolonization, and the Cold War. It discusses the role of international organizations, colonial administrations, national governments, and transnational actors in the making of the field, and it analyzes how the political, intellectual, and economic changes over the course of the postwar period affected the understanding of and expectations toward development. By drawing on examples of development projects in different parts of the world and in different fields, Corinna R. Unger shows how the plurality of development experiences shaped the notion of development as we know it today. This book is ideal for scholars seeking to understand the history of development assistance and to gain new insight into the international history of the 20th century. Cover Contents Abbreviations Acknowledgments 1 Introduction The challenges of development Historiographical and conceptual considerations Chapter outline 2 Development in History: “Everyman’s Road to Utopia?” Defining and conceptualizing development Debates about global inequalities, economic growth, and industrialization Conclusion 3 Forerunners of Development Poverty, humanitarianism, and the civilizing mission Perspectives on agriculture and rural life Colonial development Modernization projects Conclusion 4 The Emergence of Development in the Mid-Twentieth Century Late colonial development American views on global problems New international organizations The establishment of development studies Conclusion 5 Development in the Context of Decolonization and the Cold War Postcolonial states and their development goals Development models The many faces of international development assistance Relations between recipients and providers of aid Conclusion 6 Development Approaches and Practices in the Postwar Period Community development Agricultural development Education for development Public health and birth control Conclusion 7 Challenges to Development Toward a new international economic order Intellectual and political challenges to development New development approaches Conclusion 8 The Disintegration of Development Rights, markets, and sustainability Poverty eradication, dead aid, and degrowth Conclusion 9 Conclusion and Outlook Notes Bibliography Index