Politics Rules: Power, Globalization and Development

by Adam Sneyd

Whether we like it or not, we are subject to politics wherever we go and in whatever we are doing. Development is always and everywhere political, and frequently occurs with the interests of the powerful at the forefront. Can we hope to better understand the politics that shapes and controls our lives and dominates the lives of others around the globe? In this concise volume, Adam Sneyd argues that it is imperative to recognize the importance of the sub-field of development politics. He demonstrates how the difficult skill of careful political analysis can shed new light on some of today's most intractable development challenges. Sneyd shows how conflicts over ideas can entrench underdevelopment, and he conveys why we need better analyses of development politics to fight the status quo and expedite inclusive change. Adam Sneyd is an associate professor with the Department of Political Science, University of Guelph.

142 pages, Paperback

Published April 15, 2019

Reviews

[aleksa ☾ · Rating 5 out of 5]

"While we might make the analytical choice to stand back from political bluster in order to become more knowledgeable about development, we cannot expect others to follow our lead. Many people who wield intellectual influence and economic power have an interest in obscuring the reality that it is possible to analytically cut through politics to know more about it."

Beautifully said and excruciatingly true. Sneyd illustrates the interconnected nature of politics and the economy perfectly by giving clear and accessible examples that transcend location and time. I've had the pleasure of being a student in one of his IPE courses where a few chapters of this book were a mandatory read. However, this whole book will serve as a personal handbook I bring along with me in the future as I critically think about the world around me.