International Development: Illusions and Realities

by Maggie Black

The idea of reducing poverty and inequality and improving health, education, and job opportunities around the world is beyond criticism. Yet, the reality of development can often be confusion, contradiction, deceit, and corruption.

This fully updated third edition makes a major contribution to the ongoing debate about the effectiveness of aid and development. Drawing on a wide range of sources, from international studies to personal stories, Maggie Black brings objective analysis and valuable insights to all the key themes. And she presents a forceful argument for bringing the poor and marginalised into the heart of the process.

185 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 8, 2015

About the author

Maggie Black is the author of several publications including From Handpumps to Health: The Evolution of Water and Sanitation Programmes in Bangladesh, India and Nigeria and In the Twilight Zone: Child Workers in the Hotel, Tourism and Catering Industry. She has worked as a consultant for UNICEF, Anti-Slavery International, and WaterAid, among others, and has written for The Guardian, The Economist, and BBC World Service.

Reviews

[Luis Gerardo Gonzalez-Morales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, well informed, balanced view on international development and the development industry

A must-read for anyone working in international development or considering doing so. Sobering and at the same time full of optimism; critical but pragmatic; the author shows deep knowledge of how international development works in theory and practice.

[Sasha Kite · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maggie Black's No Nonsense International Development: Illusions and Realities is an easy read. Development is explained in simple terms which makes it less dense than other books about development, such as Arturo Escobar's: Encountering Development. Black tackles different issues of the well-meaning development project and how they affect the 'developing' world. Her conclusion gives an idea of how to truly start towards solving world poverty. The book is, overall, an easy read for someone with no background knowledge in international development (and the accompanying intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations) , but is eager to learn.