Anthem Press Depoliticizing Development: The World Bank and Social Capital (Anthem Studies in Development and Globalization)

The idea of social capital – meaning, most simply put, 'social connections' – was unheard of outside a small circle of sociologists until very recently. Now, it is proclaimed by the World Bank to be the 'missing link' in international development and has become the subject of a flurry of books and research papers. Harriss asks why this notion should have taken off in the dramatic way that it has done and finds in its uses by the World Bank the attempt, systematically, to obscure class relations and power. Review 'A scathing and yet also meticulous critique of Robert Putnam's work on social capital. John Harriss shows why Putnam's work is attractive to the World Bank, and why attempts to define social capital as the 'missing link' in development are misguided and self-serving. Depoliticizing Development is a must read for all students of development' Stuart Corbridge, Professor of Geography and Regional Studies, University of Miami, USA; Professor of Geography, London School of Economics, UK. 'Depoliticizing Development shows us how, through subscription to the idea of social capital, social scientists as well as the World Bank have managed to neatly sideline the idea that human beings make their own histories through struggle against deep and entrenched structures of power and oppression. In this elegant and lucidly-written work John Harriss exposes the complicity of both these establishments in the maintenance of power relations.' Neera Chandhoke, Professor of Politics, University of Delhi, India. Review 'A scathing and yet also meticulous critique of Robert Putnam's work on social capital. John Harriss shows why Putnam's work is attractive to the World Bank, and why attempts to define social capital as the 'missing link' in development are misguided and self-serving. 'Depoliticizing Development' is a must read for all students of development.' —Stuart Corbridge, Professor of Geography and Regional Studies, University of Miami, USA; and Professor of Geography, London School of Economics, UK 'Shows us how, through subscription to the idea of social capital, social scientists as well as the World Bank have managed to neatly sideline the idea that human beings make their own histories through struggle against deep and entrenched structures of power and oppression. In this elegant and lucidly-written work John Harriss exposes the complicity of both these establishments in the maintenance of power relations.' —Neera Chandhoke, Professor of Politics, University of Delhi, India Book Description A unique investigation into the notion of social capital, analysing its misappropriation in development economics. About the Author John Harriss is Professor of Development Studies at the London School of Economics. He has been a visiting researcher at the Madras Institute of Development Studies, India and has published extensively on aspects of India's political economy.