archive

Lives in the poor world

F. Charles Sherman (Osgoode): Law and Development Today: The New Developmentalism. Jennifer Wheary (Demos): The Global Middle Class is Here: Now What? In 1965 Jamaica and Singapore were equal in wealth, but four decades later, their standing was dramatically different — what accounts for the difference? From The Economist, a special report on telecoms in emerging markets: Mobile phones have transformed lives in the poor world — mobile money could have just as big an impact. Fearing food shortages, investors from wealthy countries are snapping up land in poor countries to grow food there — is this development or exploitation? How can we help the world’s poor?: Humanitarians are fiercely divided about what helps poor people. The downside of "smart power": USAID's new chief Rajiv Shah is stepping into a fierce struggle about the right role of humanitarian aid in foreign policy. A review of The Unheard Truth: Poverty and Human Rights by Irene Khan with David Petrasek. Is democracy a dirty word?: Advocates hated Bush's attempts to impose freedom at gunpoint but worry Obama's approach isn't much better. Michael Ross (UCLA): Is Democracy Good for the Poor? A review of Wars, Guns and Votes: Democracy in Dangerous Places by Paul Collier (and 5 myths about the beauty of the ballot box). Gangs in the global city: Global cities linking global economic circuits are also home to transnational criminals. The power of positive deviants: A promising new tactic for changing communities from the inside. A review of The Politics of the Governed: Reflections on Popular Politics in Most of the World by Partha Chatterjee.