The history of an idea. The no-nonsense guide to international development

Black, M. (2002). The history of an idea. In The no-nonsense guide to international development (illustrated ed.). (pp. 10-30). London: Verso.

In the context that development meant a process of backward countries moving forward, courtesy of the assistance of industrialised countries. Given there are more poor people than ever, does it work?
There are many major projects which seem to be effected by corruption and lack of sympathy for local land use.  No compensation, no consultation, and neglects environmental concerns. Low wages.
Development becomes "means and ends". Infrastructure white elephants can occur.
Often lead to forced displacement without compensation. 10 m people a year are displaced from construction of dams and public transport. Often may also represent ethnic cleansing.

Projects may provide benefits in terms of power, transport etc, they often lead to staggering debt levels. Interest payments displace money spent on education and social services. Often development on the pretext of those with little is done on the basis of furthering developed world.

Development has led to a global socio-economic aparthied . With terrorism and globalisation movement has development movement become the antthesis of what it set out to do?

Developments history comes out of the developed world. Probably dates back to Harry Truman who declared in 1947 inaugural address that science and industraialisation should be made available to the poor of the world - subtext was protecting many places from communism.
In 1960 many countries raced for independence