Synopses & Reviews
This provocative book asks readers to be politically realistic about what is happening to the overwhelming majority of people in Third World countries. With three exceptions (Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan), development has not come. A myriad of people in feeble infant-states have been born--children of self-determination, but not of economic and scientific progress. State-driven, communist, and neo-liberal development models have failed most of these people. The large majority of Third World countries are only mistakenly called "developing." They are not actually in the process of becoming Newly Industrialized Countries (NIC's), but Non-Viable National Economies (NNE's). This book explores the option of replacing the wealth of nations agenda with a survival of nations agenda. In order to prevent increasing social and political disorders, the author argues that many countries with primary production and explosive urban growth will have to abandon dreams of development to adopt a policy of national survival based on the search for water, food, and energy security--and the stabilization of their populations.
Review
"...this provocative and well-written book may stimulate discussion and promote sound survival and development policies." --
Choice
Synopsis
Face reality. Be honest about what is happening to the majority of people in Third World countries. The message of this courageous book is that the benefits of development, so long promised over the past fifty years, have not come about for most people. Nor are they going to. The necessary investment is not available and modern technology actually dispenses with labour rather than providing jobs for the growing multitudes in the cities of the South.
Many countries, and large parts of their cities in particular, are already collapsing into 'ungovernable chaotic entities' under the control of warlords and mafias. State-driven and market-led development models have both failed. Many countries are mistakenly called 'developing' -- they would, in fact, be better described as 'non-viable national economies' (NNEs).
What is to be done? 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.
About the Author
Oswaldo De Rivero is a former Peruvian diplomat, ex-Ambassador to the United Nations, and other international organizations. He was recently appointed as the Peruvian Ambassador to the World Trade Organization.
Table of Contents
The Twilight of the Nation-State * Global Empowerment and National Impoverishment * International Darwinism * The Search for El Dorado * Worldwide Depredation * Survival