Synopses & Reviews
World Poverty provides a general summary of world poverty at the beginning of the 21st century, then an introduction to modern world system theory and its attempts to explain world poverty and inequality. Separate chapters contain an overview of poverty in Africa, Latin America, and then Asia. Remaining chapters offer explanations for why some countries in the world (mostly in Asia) have become richer and reduced the ranks of their poor through ties with the global economy while others have not. Kerbo provides extensive evidence for why the nature of the state in developing countries is the most important factor in stagnation or even economic development with poverty reduction. But, in contrast to previous research and new statements by the World Bank, he has created a model attempting to explain why and how some countries have “good governance” and others do not. The book concludes with what we now know about world poverty and what does and does not work to reduce it.
About the Author
Harold R. Kerbo is a professor of sociology at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Professor Kerbo is also the founder and Director of the Pacific Rim Group at Cal Poly, an organization which coordinates research and educational programs in Pacific Rim countries. In addition to other teaching experience in Tokyo, Professor Kerbo was a Fulbright Professor during 1988/1989 at Hiroshima University, as well as a visiting professor in the Law Faculty at Hiroshima Shudo University. During 1991, Professor Kerbo was a visiting professor at the University of Duisburg, Germany, and returned to the Dusseldorf area during 1992 and 1993 as a research professor conducting research on employee relations in Japanese corporations located in Germany. In 1990 Professor Kerbo received a Fulbright-Hays grant to study at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand, and for several months during 1994 to 1996 directed a research project on employee relations in American and Japanese corporations with operations in Thailand. During 1996 he was also a visiting professor in the MBA Program at the Prince of Songkla University in Thailand. During the winter term of 1999 professor Kerbo was a visiting professor at the University of Zurich, Switzerland. And during the fall term of 1999 he will be a visiting professor at the University of Wales. Professor Kerbo has published five books and numerous articles on the subjects of social stratification, comparative societies, corporate structure, and modern Japan. He is the author of Sociology: Social Structure and Social Conflict (MacMillan, 1989), and along with John A. McKinstry, the author of Who Rules Japan?: The Inner-Circles of Economic and Political Power (Greenwood/Praeger, 1995). Professor Kerbo is creator and general editor of the McGraw-Hill Comparative Societies Series which will include books on 12 countries.
Table of Contents
Preface Chapter 1 A World Divided: Rich Corporations and the Poor of This Earth The Worlds Poor At the New Millennium A Case in Point: A Walk Through Klong Toey The “Wretched of the Earth” The Affluent of the Earth American Poverty: The Most Unequal Nation Why We Should Care: Wars and International Terrorism To the Barricades, Again: Protesting “Globalization” The Exploitation of the Worlds Poor, Some Exceptions American and Japanese corporations in Thailand Lessons from Asia: The Richer and Poorer Nations of East and Southeast Asia A Brief Tour of Economic Development in Southeast Asia The Important Questions: A Preview Data Files: An Introduction to Data on World Poverty Chapter 2 World Poverty at the 21st Century: Global Comparisons World Inequalities by Region Democracy and Good Government Data File: Poverty Reduction, Economic Development, and Democracy Health Disparities Why We Should Care: New Plagues of the 21st Century Population Problems Demographic Transition Case in Point: Fighting Population Growth and AIDS in Thailand Rapid Urbanization Empowered Women Environment World Regions: An Historical and Contemporary Introduction Africa: The Origins of Human Development and a Continent in Crisis East and Southeast Asia: A Region on the Move South Asia: Finally Some Hope Latin America: Economic Development Without Poverty Reduction Eastern Europe and Central Asia: Overcoming Communism? The Middle East: Ancient Civilizations in Conflict World Poverty: Conclusion and Next Questions Chapter 3 The Modern World System: Explanations of Globalization and Conflict Characteristics of the Modern World System A Brief History of the Modern World System Postwar competition: the rise and fall of the Soviet Union Case in Point: Disappearing Foreign Aid The relative decline then re-emergence of the United States The Future of Core Competition American inequality, poverty, and competing forms of capitalism in the 21st century Case in Point: American and German workers compared Why We Should Care: Wal-Mart, reduced American wages, and the loss of American jobs The Global Corporate Class Chapter 4 The Global Economy and World Poverty: Attempted Explanations A Resurgence of Cultural Explanations Why the Worlds Poor Often Remain Poor: Dependency, Uneven Development, and Economic Stagnation The class struggle within A Case in Point: Sweatshops and Child Labor in Latin America Global Corporations Can Do Harm: Some Evidence The Western Bias: Why We Often Fail to Understand The Problem of Research Method Data File: Foreign Direct Investment and Contrasting Outcomes A Rich Nation Bias Chapter 5 The Roots of “Asian Miracles:” Ancient Traditions, “Asian Values,” and Development States The Asian “Economic Miracles” Today The Development of Underdevelopment: Taiwan as an Exception Asian Traditions and Social Organization: Some Commonalities ancient civilizations Data File: The Legacy of State Building and State Efficiency Today traditions of authority and elite responsibility “Asian values” Case in Point: Japanese Corporations in Germany and Thailand development state Data File: State Effectiveness and Economic Development Today The Asian Development Model Japan's economic development the Japanese bureaucratic elite and the technical means of the development state the Asian development model: a conclusion Chapter 6 Colonialism and Its Aftermath: Fractured Nations, Wars, and Recovery (For Some) Case In Point: British Drug Pushers, the Opium Wars, and the Colonization of China Clearing Away Impediments: Pre-industrial Europe, North America, and Japan Overcoming Colonialism China: “opting out” of the modern world system India and China compared The Colonial Experience of East and Southeast Asia Case In Point: The Dishonor Roll of the Worlds Most Corrupt Dictators Colonialism and the Division of Africa Colonialism and the Creation of Latin America Chapter 7 Africa: Fractured Nations and “Predator States” in the Global Economy Case in Point: Colonialism and Hunger in Africa A Brief History of Africa in the Modern World System Why We Should Care: Blowback African Social Organization: The Big Man Case in Point: Mobutus Congo Africa Today and Future Prospects Oil Wealth Contrasting National Conditions in Africa Worst Cases Somewhat Successful Cases South Africa Conclusion: Africa in the New Global Economy Chapter 8 Latin America: Stagnation and Uneven Development A Brief History of Elites and Masses in Latin America Theories of Latin American Economic Stagnation Why We Should Care: Global Migration The Latin American State: For U.S. Corporations and by U.S. Corporations The Case of U.S. Covert Action in Chile The Reform Approach of the Late 1970s IMF “Structural Adjustments” Case in Point: Crisis and Decline in Argentina Conclusion Chapter 9 Development and Poverty in Southeast Asia: A Region of Extremes A Cultural Tour of Southeast Asia The Impact of Colonialism and Southeast Asia Today A Brief History of Southeast Asian Nations Thailand: the preconditions for economic development and poverty reduction Case in Point: A Walk Through Village Thailand Burma: the preconditions for disorder Laos: the preconditions for stagnation Cambodia: the preconditions for disaster Vietnam: the preconditions for revival The Other Nations of Southeast Asia Case in Point: The Overseas Chinese, Ethnic Relations, and Advantages in Economic Development The Potential for Sustained Development and Poverty Reduction: A Conclusion Chapter 10 Globalization and World Poverty: Limitations and Tools for Sustainable Development The Facade of Uneven Development What We Know About Causes and Solutions to World Poverty ancient civilizations and historical legacies “good governance” culture The New Global Economy and Impediments for Poverty Reduction a different “free market” world economy the impact of outside corporate investment Policies and “Technical Tools” for Economic Development import substitution and export industries the importance of land and agriculture Case In Point: Independent Thai Peasants and Political Action other technical tools for development Data File: Technical Means of Poverty Reduction are not Universally Applicable, Education and Development Thai Development Policies: An Asian Example A Conclusion and View From the Hill Tribes End Notes References Web Resources