Routledge Development Beyond Neoliberalism?: Governance, Poverty Reduction and Political Economy

Development’s current focus – poverty reduction and good governance – signals a turn away from the older neoliberal preoccupation with structural adjustment, privatization and downsizing the state. For some, the new emphases on empowering and securing the poor through basic service delivery, local partnership, decentralization and institution building constitute a decisive break with the past and a whole set of new development possibilities beyond neoliberalism. Taking a wider historical perspective, this book charts the emergence of poverty reduction and governance at the centre of development. It shows that the Poverty Reduction paradigm does indeed mark a shift in the wider liberal project that has underpinned development: precisely what is new, and what this means for how the poor are governed, are described here in detail. This book provides a compelling history of development doctrine and practice, and in particular offers the first comprehensive account of the last twenty years, and development’s shift towards a new political economy of institution building, decentralized governance and local partnerships. The story is illustrated with extensive case studies from first hand experience in Vietnam, Uganda, Pakistan and New Zealand. Review "For over a decade the consensus about how to do Development has focused on market liberalization, overarching juridical and public sector reform, and local participation in service delivery. Development Beyond Neoliberalism? mounts a frontal challenge to this consensus, using an unusual mix of empirical arguments. Recommended for the prejudiced and unprejudiced alike." Robert Hunter Wade, Professor of Political Economy, Development Studies Institute, London School of Economics "This book vividly exposes the poverty of neoliberal development agenda at all its levels - economic, political, and social - through a powerful and sophisticated mixture of history, theory, and detailed empirical studies. It is a major achievement." Ha-Joon Chang. Assistant Director of Development Studies. Faculty of Economics, Cambridge University. 'This well-written book would be a useful stand-alone text for advanced undergraduates or a companion volume for graduate students. Students interested in development from disciplines such as geography, anthropology, sociology or international studies would fi nd this volume useful. ' Rob Krueger, Urban Studies Journal About the Author David Craig works in the Sociology Department, the University of Aukland. Doug Porter is with the Asian Development Bank.