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Title: |
The Power of Greed |
| Sub-title: |
Collective Action in International Development |
Search Result:
| By (author): |
Michael Rosberg |
| ISBN10-13: |
0888644299 : 9780888644299 |
| Format: |
Paperback |
| Pages: |
344 |
| Weight: |
.275 Kg. |
| Published: |
The University of Alberta Press - August 2005 |
| List Price: |
26.99 Pounds Sterling |
| Availability: |
Out of Print
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| Subjects: |
Development economics & emerging economies |
| International Development Has Not Worked "After half a century of concerted effort by many well-trained and dedicated people, development has not worked, nor have the lives of the poor throughout the world been significantly improved by the multitude of undertakings and the expenditure of billions of dollars. In the engrossing and stimulating pages of The Power of Greed, Michael Rosberg seeks to understand the reasons for this." Sidney M. Greenfield Why do so many international development projects fail? Is it because poor regions are inherently corrupt, or is it because developers and donors from rich countries do not properly take into account how local survival mechanisms in developing nations work? In a lively and provocative analysis of community development, Michael Rosberg challenges the received wisdom of international development agencies, suggesting that in order for development to be successful it must speak directly to the self-interest of individuals in emerging nations. He argues that economic challenges are best addressed with a careful understanding of local circumstances, noting that grassroots economic success leads to democratic empowerment. Neither a pro-establishment nor an anti-establishment developer, Rosberg indicates a third way which balances the agendas of donors and recipients in authentic partnerships. Avoiding the sterile debates of morality associated with wealth generation and distribution, Rosberg demonstrates how self-interest, or greed as he calls it, can be a powerful motivator for collective good and a key to the success of international development programs. In an accessible and personal work, The Power of Greed deftly navigates the thickets of morality, theory, and ideology to arrive at pragmatic strategies that demonstrate that when an individual's self-interest is creatively and appropriately engaged in cooperative enterprise, the greater good of the community can be well served. Michael Rosberg is a Canadian living in Belize. He has a PhD in Development Studies from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. Currently, he is a Lecturer at Galen University and a socio-economic consultant for multi-lateral organizations and Belizean NGOs. |
| Table of Contents: |
| Morality is Blinding Us; Decision-Making and Responsibility; The Emergence of Expediency in the Caribbean Region; Clientelism Versus Moral Community Development; Structural Theories and Related Strategies; The Development Potential of Process Theories; Greed Can Dismantle Clientelism; The Development Project as a Creative Response to Greed; Five Scenarios of Demand-Led Projects; Conclusion. |
| Reviews: |
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"Rosberg.writes that any serious effort at development has to build local communities where cooperation, social trust and entrepreneurship combine to create opportunity and growth, allowing local people to take greater charge of their lives. The way to do this is to capitalize on the greed or self-interest of local communities and align this with opportunity, he argues." -- David Crane, Literary Review of Canada, Vol. 13, No. 5, June 2005
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"Based on his extensive experience in the field of development, Michael Rosberg recommends a shift away from the moralistic approach so common to international development. The book argues that once the relevant context is understood, the often desperate and greedy interactions of the poor and their oppressors actually make sense. The idealistic interventions we promote frequently do not. Self-interested behaviour, therefore, is not necessarily the enemy of development initiatives, but a powerful ally." -- Glebe Report, August 2005
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"Using greed as a backdrop, Rosberg provided intriguing insights on the system of patronage most politicians practice, development approaches and the general dependency which puts many residents at the mercy of the masters." Ann Marie Williams, The Reporter (Belize), November 3, 2005
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"Instead of condemning necessary greed, the book suggests we find ways of making use of it. Sometimes one person's greed actually increases her neighbour's opportunities. We can make deliberate use of such examples. Instead of trying to change behaviour, we can focus on changing the opportunities so that greedy actions have positive social consequences." The Galen Newsletter, Fall 2005.
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"Many dedicated people have tried unsuccessfully, at great expense, to improve conditions in less-developed countries. Rosberg not only states frankly that the biggest impediment to progress is corruption and bad governance in these states, but baldly asks the question, "Is something wrong with Third World people?" Developers' traditional response has been to focus on social injustice, to blame the rich, and to convince the target population to abandon their selfish behaviours in favour of co-operative collective action. According to the author, the greedy behaviour of target communities dooms this moralistic and idealistic approach to failure, but these negative behaviours can be harnessed productively if development projects are redesigned. He has no illusions about the nobility of the poor.This is not a quick how-to book for a field operative; it is a fairly dense discussion of modernization theory. The 20-page introduction by anthropology professor S.M. Greenfield is a paper in itself. Those looking for a few concrete examples of development strategies should skip to the last few chapters..Though the book's scholarly approach will limit its appeal, it is still commendable for daring to declare the futility of half a century of a moralistic development approach. It will be of some assistance to those designing development projects in poor communities." Jane M. Wilson, Canadian Book Review Annual 2007
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