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Maggie Black

No Nonsense Guide to Internationl Development Paperback – September 27, 2002

by Maggie Black (Author)

3.9 42 ratings

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Building dams in India, planting trees in Burkina Faso, rescuing street children in Brazil - these are images of aid and international development with which we can all identify. What few people realize is that the terms 'overseas aid' and 'international development' mask confusion, contradiction, and even downright deceit. All too often what passes for development improves life for the better-off, while actively hurting the very people the venture was meant to support. In this No-Nonsense Guide Maggie Black exposes the hypocrisy and reveals a more accurate picture of what is happening in development's name, arguing for a process to be put in place that truly defends the interests of poor people.

Print length

144 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Between the Lines
Publication date

September 27, 2002
Dimensions

4.32 x 0.45 x 7.11 inches
ISBN-10

1896357628
ISBN-13

978-1896357621
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Customer reviews

3.9 out of 5

42 global ratings

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Trevor Neal

review of Mrs. Black's No Nonsense Guide

Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2014

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Although there are many good books out there on economic development, 'The No Nonsense Guide to International Development,' is a good place to start. Comprehensible for a lay person, "The No Nonsense Guide," documents the main ideas in the International development process as well as providing a critique of it.

The author, Mrs. Black starts with an overview of the history of development; beginning with the end of World War II and the independence of new countries in a post-colonial world. President Truman dreamed of modeling International Development after the Marshall plan which was currently rebuilding Europe. However, the cold war quickly escalated and the emphasis of development became the containment of communism as well as the spread of a U.S. Sphere of influence among developing nations. With the fall of the Soviet Union in the 1990's globalization was emphasized; a process dominated by Transnational corporations whose main motive was for profit.

Transnational companies, government agencies of developed countries and the United Nations have spearheaded most development efforts. Non-governmental (N.G.O.) agencies have also become involved and have the best track record in development. However, the record for development has not been positive. Much of the International aid does not reach those who need it the most; illustrating that large infrastructure projects and trickle-down theories to development need to be re-thought. Furthermore, International loans have also exacerbated problems, indebting many developing nations. Meanwhile, the world is becoming increasingly aware of the limits to growth and the impact of human pollution; creating new tensions between developed and developing nations as well as highlighting development that is sustainable.

Mrs. Black ends on a positive note. Although she advances powerful critiques of development, she doesn't call for its end. Instead, she encourages developers to reconsider their strategies and goals to prioritize development that is bottom up, local, and centered on the needs of those who need it the most. Furthermore, she urges that developer and developing countries become equal partners in the development process. Summarizing, this quote is pertinent:

'.... true development is about people, and social beings do not function mechanistically. There is no common prescription. To be of genuine use to people, development has to grow organically, building on existing knowledge and systems, and engaging empathetically with different ideas......'

Many of the ideas that Mrs. Black proposes are not new. Yet, what she does in 'The No Nonsense guide to development,' is provide a valuable overview of key themes in the development field. Furthermore, I liked the emphasis she places on local, bottom up development. It is for these reasons that I encourage others to pick up this book.

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Matt

Interesting, Easy Read

Reviewed in the United States on August 23, 2010

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This "No-Nonsense Guide" is a must for anyone who is newly interested in the strengths and weaknesses of the "international development" industry. It covers a lot of ground, including history, case studies, and current status of many types of development programs. The text is very readable, interspersed with the occasional graph, chart, and sidebar to illustrate a point. And it's concise...at 140-some pages of paperback-size it gives a lot of interesting info quickly.

The reason it gets 4/5 stars is it doesn't say anything new, or at least nothing that isn't said in more detail in many other places. Yes, development has exacerbated at least as much (probably more) poverty as it has alleviated. But that's been the central theme in a number of recent books. And this book's basic conclusion is pretty simplistic: bring the poor into the process. Very little beyond that.

So to conclude, if you are just getting involved in the development world, or just want a quick summary of its highs and lows, I highly recommend this book as an easy, informative overview. And that's not a negative - I believe based on the format and style that's the central purpose of this book. However, if you've already read 3 or 4 current books in the field you can skip this one.

5 people found this helpful

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Alex

Good points. Dull read.

Reviewed in the United States on November 15, 2013

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Maggie Black presents several good points, highlighting the discrepancies in our aid programs and the arrogance with which we impose our standards of economics and development upon cultures and environments without considering the claim. But, it's also immensely boring and repetitive. The same points are made multiple times, which is only persuasive to a point, and she manages to use a lot of words to say very little. Somewhere in this book is a crucial message about the role and conduct of development, but the presentation was poor.

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Mary

Great

Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2020

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The book was in great condition!

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Steven Blyth

Good overview of International Development

Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2012

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This is a good overview of International Development, however it does require some basic knowledge of the basic theorists and actors in the field, as in some sections the author assumes the reader is already familiar with these ideas.

That being said, this is a quick read and does give a good background on the topic, an How the field of International Development has evolved throughout the recent decades.

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Diana Jimenez T.

Good starting point

Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2015

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Maggie Black offers a clear, concise introduction of development and its challenges. It is thought provoking and compelling. Excellent starting point for the new development reader.

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A. Hostetler

Very informative

Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2009

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Great short read. A must for International Development students. The book covers everything from sustainable development to development problems and does it without loosing the readers interest.

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SarahPDX

A Joke to Serious Development Students and Teachers

Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2013

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I teach a course on International Development at the University level. The Bibliography for my course is 25 books long. Of all these books I've read on the topic of International Development, some I like better than others, but all present a unique, valid, and well researched approach to the topic. ALL EXCEPT THIS ONE. Contrary to it's title, this book is NOTHING BUT NONSENSE. I find it embarrassing that Amazon lists this book as a fair comrade to other books like Bottom Billion, The End of Poverty and When Helping Hurts. It is not even in the same class. In fact the author doesn't even attempt to provide research or address the wide array of issues in this field, but rather chooses to go on nonsensical tirade. Anyone who is serious about this field of study would avoid this book at all costs.

4 people found this helpful

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C Preston

A Missed Opportunity

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 19, 2015

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I am disappointed by this book and I think it is a missed opportunity. I speak as someone who has been working in international development over a period of 20 years ranging from small NGOs to working with the large multilateral funders.

It's clear that the author knows her subject however I expected a more objective discussion of the issues. Instead the author has a clear opinion and agenda. The book is far from a balanced discussion. Nevertheless there was enough substance to continue reading and I'm happy to hear someone else's view.

The point where it all got to much for me was the discussion about social sectors and in particular the statement that "people in traditional occupations are cut out - water sellers .... etc. The prices of the new goods and services invariably end up higher than those of the traditional providers they replace". In many cases this is far from the truth. The poor, who are the ones that often have to reply on water sellers, are usually the ones that pay the most for their water, often 3-6 times the amount that the rich pay, particularly in urban areas. In many major cities of the World much gangland violence is centred around the control of the water sellers territories.

3 people found this helpful

Peter

Came over as very negative

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 31, 2013

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I bought this book to read more about development. I had expected a balanced book that highlighted both the successes and the failures as suggested by the title of the series "no nonsense". However, what I found was a continual criticism and listing of the failures of development. Although microfinance and some of the small scale NGO projects are praised, without re-reading the book I am struggling to recall anything else that was positive. I read this as somebody who is not an expert and perhaps it is all gloom as the book seems to suggest but it makes for a depressing read. I will not be buying the other "No Nonsense" guides based on this book.

5 people found this helpful

Stubert

to the point and articulate

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 13, 2013

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A very well written and researched book, short sharp and to the point. Highlights the disparity between helping the poor and development two things that have, until recently, been quite contradictory.

Paul F

Good intro to the subject

Reviewed in Canada on March 27, 2017

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Good, concise book.

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No Nonsense Guide to Internationl Development Paperback – September 27, 2002

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