The Myth of Development

Non-viable Economies and the Crisis of Civilization

By: Oswaldo De Rivero

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eBook | 4 April 2013 | Edition Number 2

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176 Pages

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Published: 15th September 2019

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The message of this courageous classic book is that the benefits of development, so long promised over the past sixty years, have not come about for most people. Nor are they going to.

State-driven and market-led development models have both failed. Many countries, and their cities in particular, are collapsing into 'ungovernable chaotic entities' under the control of warlords and mafias. Oswaldo de Rivero argues that the 'wealth of nations' agenda must be replaced by a 'survival of nations' agenda. In order to prevent increasing human misery and political disorder, many countries must abandon dreams of development and adopt instead a policy of national survival based on providing basic water, food and energy, and stabilizing their populations.

This much-anticipated new edition features both updated statistics and fresh material, including an essential new argument that the present global crisis is not simply economic but a much more profound crisis of 'the California Model': a crisis of our way of life and of our unsustainable global urban civilization.

Industry Reviews

'Bristling with new ideas, the author provides us with an intelligent way into understanding better the world's present disorders.' Le Monde Diplomatique 'Highly readable, The Development Myth is a useful tool for understanding the enormous problems for survival that will have to be faced by the poverty-stricken, exploding urban populations of the wrongly called "developing countries".' Javier Perez de Cuellar, United Nations 'This provocative and well-written book may stimulate discussion and promote sound survival and development policies.' The Choice