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Contributions from
the Column
Media
Postmodern Global Governance – The UNCCD
Development policy textbook
Development assistance – a worthy endeavour?
The World Guide 2005/2006
12/2005 |
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5th edition:
Textbook classic
Franz Nuscheler:
Lern- und Arbeitsbuch Entwicklungspolitik
(Development Policy Textbook and Manual).
Bonn, Verlag J.H.W. Dietz 2004, 5th completely revised edition,
656 pages, ¤16.80, ISBN 3-8012-0350-6
“An appeal for development policy, despite all the criticism” reads the headline of Franz Nuscheler’s foreword to the fifth edition of his textbook and manual. The title is typical of his work. He concisely describes the “irrelevance trap”, in which development policy has stuck since the end of the Cold War. Even the short-term interest in the “deep structures” of the North-South conflict after 11 September 2001 was unable to effect any fundamental change in the general perception of this policy field. The tight budgetary position in most of the OECD countries set other priorities. The expectations have been too high, says Nuscheler, and despite all the criticism of development assistance, its national and multilateral actors and structures, he calls for its continuation – not only in our own best interests, and as an act of humanity, but because it makes political sense.
The new edition has again grown in scope. Nuscheler introduces the reader to the topic in four main sections (The North-South problem at the dawn of the 21st century, poverty/underdevelopment/development, crucial global and development problems, actors/decision-making processes/organisational structures/ activity levels). A fifth section takes stock and develops the viewpoints and challenges of a policy to shape global structures.
The book is an essential handbook for beginners and the experienced, for the curious and the skeptical. Readers will find the development glossary and comprehensive selection of further reading helpful. A subject index and a list of names would have made it even more useful. The book not only conveys the basic principles in an understandable language, but also stimulates intelligent discussion. It promotes development policy with Nuscheler’s works on global governance forming a plausible frame of reference.
“Development policy is not suffering from a lack of ideas and good intentions, but from a short-term perception of interests, which for reasons of expediency seem impossible to translate into a long-term, global approach,” states Nuscheler. This is precisely what is outstanding about Nuscheler’s book. He presents the reader with a global perspective on development issues, in his own well-informed and resourceful manner.
Hinrich Mercker
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