The Development Dictionary:
A Guide to Knowledge as Power
by Wolfgang Sachs

Some of the world's most eminent critics of development review the key concepts of the development discourse in the post-war era. Each essay examines one concept from a historical and anthropological point of view and highlights its particular bias. The authors call for a bidding farewell to the whole Eurocentric development idea, which is urgently needed in order to liberate people's minds for bold responses to the environmental and ethical challenges now confronting humanity. These essays are an invitation to experts, grassroots movements and students of development to recognise the tainted glasses they put on whenever they participate in the development discourse. Each essay is followed by an annotated bibliograpy to encourage further studies in the cultural history of the development idea.

Reviewed by Michiel Schwarz in 'Industrial & Environmental Crisis Quarterly, Vol. 8, No. 4, 1994