The Development Dictionary: A Guide to Knowledge as Power

by Wolfgang Sachs (Editor)

In this classic collection, some of the world's most eminent critics of development review the key concepts of the development discourse. Each essay examines one concept from a historical and anthropological point of view and highlights its particular bias. Exposing their historical obsolescence and intellectual sterility, the authors call for a bidding farewell to the whole Eurocentric development idea. This is urgently needed, they argue, in order to liberate people's minds -- in both North and South -- for bold responses to the environmental and ethical challenges now confronting humanity.The combined result forms a must-read invitation to experts, grassroots movements and students of development to recognize the tainted glasses they put on whenever they participate in the development discourse.

Genres: Nonfiction, Economics, Social Science, Philosophy, Sociology, International Relations, Political Science

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

Wolfgang Sachs (born 25 November 1946) is a researcher, writer and university teacher in the field of environment, development, and globalization.
He studied sociology and Catholic theology in Munich, Tübingen and Berkeley. He holds a master degree in sociology (1971), a master degree in theology (1972) and a PhD in social sciences (1975).
After a period (1975–1984) as Assistant Professor at the Technical University of Berlin he joined the Society for International Development in Rome as a co-editor of the journal Development. 1987–1990 he was Visiting Professor at Pennsylvania State University and 1990–1993 Fellow at the Institute for Advanced Study in the Humanities in Essen.
In 1992 he edited and co-authored the volume The Development Dictionary: A Guide to Knowledge as Power (London: Zed Books), by now a 'classic' in (Post-)Development Studies, which has been translated into a dozen languages. A new edition, including a new preface, was published in 2010.
Since 1993 Sachs has worked at the Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment, and Energy In Germany, since 2009 as head of the Berlin Office. He served also as chairman of Greenpeace Germany from 1993 to 2001, and as a lead author in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) from 1999 to 2001. On behalf of the Heinrich Boell Foundation, Berlin, he chaired two international civil society expert panels, one to draft a memorandum for the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in 2002 (The Jo'burg Memo) and the other (also on behalf of Misereor) to carry out a Dialogue / Report on multilateral trade rules for sustainable markets in agriculture (Slow Trade – Sound Farming, 2007). He is also Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the annual fair "Terra Futura" in Florence, Italy a Curator of the annual "Toblach Talks" in Toblach, Italy, and a co-organizer of the annual "Spiekeroog Climate Talks" on the island of Spiekeroog, Germany. Sachs is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of ATTAC.
Furthermore, he is the principal author of Fair Future: Resource Conflicts, Security and Global Justice and Sustainable Germany in a Globalized World, both major studies produced by the Wuppertal Institute. Sachs is also a member of the Club of Rome, a lecturer at Schumacher College and a Honorary Professor at the University of Kassel, Germany.

Reviews

[Francisca Viegas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally a book that gets it! EQUALITY AS SAMENESS AND EQUALITY AS JUSTICE are not the same thing! 🤍

[Cortnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this for class and had great discussions on each chapter. It was a community development class and the majority of my classmates were RPCVs. We had great conversations on the benefits and harsh drawbacks of development and its origin. I highly suggest this book as a resource for those going into international development or community development. It is very critical but there are very many considerations to take into your decisions on whether what we do are community developers is harmful or beneficial. I will say that the book is very academic, and not much of an "easy read."

[Hodan A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Initially this was my amnesia solution!once i try to read the introduction---i fall asleep. However, couple of months ago i started using it for a research paper...And it hit me like a storm. This is a book that every collage student should read wither if you belong to 1st,2nd,3rd,4th or even 5th world country. Its just refreshing,all the concepts that we were force-fed from childhood(if your born in the 80's comme moi)till today through the media e.g. development/science/technology result in nothing but social conditioning of an overly consumer based reality. We are taught to buy to consume to learn to work to go over and buy more stuff. This whole charade is articulated in simple understandable terms. A salute !!!to all the writers that contributed in the making of this peace of ART.

[Aslihan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very informative and concise book on the evolution of development as a concept, with specific references to the history of development as a process. Postwar world order that praised development through various discourses disguised the detrimental impact of development recipes imposed from outside. The book provides a critique of the unquestioned commitment to the development discourse and forces the reader to think beyond the conventional patterns of thinking that take the backdrop of underdevelopment for granted and push for development at great cost.

Among many prominent scholars who made contributions, I personally would like to underline the work of Vandana Shiva on Resources, especially in a time when the environmental impact of development has become irreversible.

[Tobi ﾄﾋﾞ · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing book but the line “homo sapiens into homo miserabilis” by ivan illich threw me off so bad

[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential and challenging reading for not only development / human geography students, but for all those working to make the world a better place (charity/NGO workers, activists, community workers, civil servants, politicians...). Was pleasantly surprised by how much it centers environmental issues in the development narrative.

While certain arguments might appear too cynical, shallow and repetitive at times (esp. the romanticised and limited view of "culture"/East-South vs modernity/West), the overall message is hard to argue against. Scholarly-wise, it could be understood as an unwilling precursor to the current decoloniality trend in social sciences, though more grounded and focused.

The writing is quite enjoyable and welcoming for those without technical expertise, with helpful notes for further reading provided. All in all, a great thought-provoking body of work by a visionary group of scholars who, unfortunately, prove themselves as still relevant 30 years since publication, perhaps even timeless.

[Mariam Elsadek · Rating 5 out of 5]

More than excellent 👌
To reconsider the world we live in and the main abstracts that control us..

[Deidre]

I'm reading this right now, and I keep wishing I had read it a few years ago. really important stuff, really important questions.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

A true classic. Essays on the meanings behind words that are thrown out in the Western world to promote our ideal "development". I can read it over and over again.
Recommended...

[John Favini · Rating 4 out of 5]

An awesome guide to various terms within the development industry. Intellectual Genealogies that get to the root of some of development's most disturbing premises.

[Wim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mustread for all people involved in or interested in development aid: the book turns your worldview upside down. Very powerful stuff highly needed to put the assumptions behind aid into perspective.

[Asghar · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is very perfect.
Everyone looking for reality must read this book.

[Hugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hugely influential and still depressingly relevant 30 years after its first release. If you work or are interested in the aid/development area then this is an essential self reflection

[Mahender Singh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Various prominent social scientists decipher the development discourse very well.
Political economy of development is quite complicated one, we understand.

[Mario D'Andreta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Per cominciare a trattare alcuni temi cruciali che condizionano profondamente la nostra condizione umana.

[Dylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing so far. Hope to finish when time allows.

[Devon · Rating 5 out of 5]

good selection of essays on various topics related to "development". an excellent critique of the concept of development and the so-called 3rd world.

[Gabriel · Rating 3 out of 5]

good introduction

[Leanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed it and it is useful at making you think about development concepts and our assumptions of what they mean. It is post-development.

[Edurne · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is my bible, and sachs is my messiah