The Great Surge

The untold story of the global poor today: A distinguished expert and advisor to developing nations reveals how weand#8217;ve reduced poverty, increased incomes, improved health, curbed violence, and spread democracyand#8212;and how to ensure the improvements continue.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;We live today at a time of great progress for the global poor. Never before have so many people, in so many developing countries, made so much progress. Most people believe the opposite: that with a few exceptions like China and India, the majority of developing countries are hopelessly mired in deep poverty, led by inept dictators, and living with pervasive famine, widespread disease, constant violence, and little hope for change. But a major transformation is underwayand#8212;and has been for two decades now. Since the early 1990s more than 700 million people have been lifted out of extreme poverty, six million fewer children die every year from disease, tens of millions more girls are in school, millions more people have access to clean water, and democracyand#8212;often fragile and imperfectand#8212;has become the norm in developing countries around the world.andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;iandgt;The Great Surgeandlt;/iandgt; tells the remarkable story of this unprecedented economic, social, and political transformation. It shows how the end of the Cold War, the development of new technologies, globalization, courageous local leadership, and in some cases, good fortune, have combined to dramatically improve the fate of hundreds of millions of people in poor countries around the world. Most importantly, andlt;iandgt;The Great Surgeandlt;/iandgt; reveals how we can fight the changing tides of climate change, resource demand, economic and political mismanagement, and demographic pressures to accelerate the political, economic, and social development that has been helping the poorest of the poor around the world.

and#8220;Steven Radelet in a brilliant new book demonstrates out how the world has actually gotten better in recent years, not by a little but by a lot. This is a careful antidote to today's fashionable pessimism and should be read by everyone.and#8221;

and#8220;With the airwaves filled with news of insurrection, desperation, and still stubborn diseases, this book jars you out of a clichand#233;d response. With his typical care and detail, Steve describes humanityand#8217;s greatest hits over the last twenty yearsand#8212;never have we lived in a time when so many are doing so well. The job surely isnand#8217;t done, but these pages provide the evidence the job can be done, if we choose to do it.and#8221;

andlt;iandgt;and#8220;The Great Surgeandlt;/iandgt; is one of the most optimistic and compelling looks at global development of our time. It challenges us to rethink both economic progress and environmental sustainability, especially when they come in conflict. While this dilemma has mystified many development experts for decades, Radelet charts a path forward that is not only possible, but imperative.and#8221;

and#8220;Human nature is evolutionarily wired to notice bad news much more than good news. But good news there is, for billions of people on the planet. Using compelling stories and data, Steve Radelet shows us just how far developing countries have come and makes a convincing case that understanding this positive history is essential for future decision-making.and#8221;

and#8220;Steven Radelet is one of the leading development thinkers and practitioners in the world today. This captivating book shows that progress for the world's poor is not just possible, it is happening right now all around the world.and#8221;

"At a time when doom, danger, and disaster dominate analysis of global trends, Steven Radelet pushes back against the pessimists with mountains of evidence and breathtaking vision. andlt;iandgt;The Great Surge andlt;/iandgt;tells the other side of the story of global change over the past two decades, a story of unprecedented human progress in reducing poverty, hunger, illiteracy, oppression, childhood deaths, and even (despite the headlines) violent conflict. This is far from a naive book. A leading development economist with deeply policy experience, Radelet readily acknowledges the enormous work still to be done, and the tenacious obstacles that persist. But in lucidly exposing the factors that have delivered transformative development progress, he shows us how leadership and cooperation at the global and developing country levels, combined with continued investments in technology, can continue to bring reductions in human misery that were once nearly beyond imagination. This is a stunning, wise, and deeply hopeful book that anyone concerned about global development must read."

"You wonand#8217;t see this in the everyday news headlines, but our world is making historic progress. Extreme poverty and disease are declining while school enrollment and self-government are on the rise. Georgetown professor Steven Radelet has written an uplifting, spirited and compelling book on what he calls andlt;iandgt;The Great Surgeandlt;/iandgt;and#8212;an ongoing global transformation weand#8217;re privileged not only to witness but to help bring about. An effervescent roadmap to the recent past and what comes next!"

and#8220;Powerful, lucid, and revelatory, andlt;Iandgt;The Great Surgeandlt;/Iandgt; makes a vital argument and offers indispensable prescriptions about sustaining global economic progress into the future.and#8221;

The untold story of the global poor: "Powerful, lucid, and revelatory, The Great Surge...offers indispensable prescriptions about sustaining global economic progress into the future" (George Soros, chairman of Soros Fund Management).
We live today at a time of great progress for the global poor. Never before have so many people, in so many developing countries, made so much progress, in so short a time in reducing poverty, increasing incomes, improving health, reducing conflict and war, and spreading democracy.
Most people believe the opposite: that with a few exceptions like China and India, the majority of developing countries are hopelessly mired in deep poverty, led by inept dictators, and have little hope for change. But a major transformation is underway--and has been for two decades now. Since the early 1990s more than 700 million people have been lifted out of extreme poverty, six million fewer children die every year from disease, tens of millions more girls are in school, millions more people have access to clean water, and democracy--often fragile and imperfect--has become the norm in developing countries around the world.
"A terrific book" (Nick Kristof, The New York Times), The Great Surge chronicles this unprecedented economic, social, and political transformation. It shows how the end of the Cold War, the development of new technologies, globalization, and courageous local leadership have combined to improve the fate of hundreds of millions of people in poor countries around the world. Most importantly, The Great Surge reveals how we can accelerate the progress.

Steven Radelet holds the Donald F. McHenry Chair in Global Human Development at Georgetown University. His work focuses on economic growth, poverty reduction, foreign aid, and debt, primarily in Africa and Asia. He has worked in developing countries around the world for thirty years and currently serves as economic adviser to the President of Liberia. He is the author of andlt;iandgt;The Great Surge: The Ascent of the Developing Worldandlt;/iandgt; and andlt;iandgt;Emerging Africa: How 17 Countries Are Leading the Wayandlt;/iandgt;.