Development Beyond Neoliberalism? ─ Governance, Poverty Reduction and Political Economy

Development’s current focus – poverty reduction and good governance – signals a turn away from the older neoliberal preoccupation with structural adjustment, privatization and downsizing the state. For some, the new emphases on empowering and securing the poor through basic service delivery, local partnership, decentralization and institution building constitute a decisive break with the past and a whole set of new development possibilities beyond neoliberalism.
Taking a wider historical perspective, this book charts the emergence of poverty reduction and governance at the centre of development. It shows that the Poverty Reduction paradigm does indeed mark a shift in the wider liberal project that has underpinned development: precisely what is new, and what this means for how the poor are governed, are described here in detail.
This book provides a compelling history of development doctrine and practice, and in particular offers the first comprehensive account of the last twenty years, and development’s shift towards a new political economy of institution building, decentralized governance and local partnerships. The story is illustrated with extensive case studies from first hand experience in Vietnam, Uganda, Pakistan and New Zealand.

1. Governing Poverty: Development Beyond Neoliberalism? Part 1: Liberal Development and Governance from Free Trading to ‘Neoliberal Institutionalism’ 2. The Historical Hybrids of Liberal and Other Development, c1600–1990: Markets Territory and Security in Development Retrospect 3. The Rise of Governance Since 1990: The Capable State, Poverty Reduction and 'Inclusive' Neoliberalism 4. Local Institutions for Poverty Reduction? 1997-2005: Re-Imagining a Joined-Up, Decentralised Governance Part 2: Cases from Vietnam, Uganda, Pakistan and New Zealand 5. Vietnam: Framing the Community, Clasping the People 6. Uganda: Telescoping of Reforms, Local-Global Accommodation 7. Pakistan: A Fortress of Edicts 8. New Zealand: Joining up Governance after New Institutionalism 9. Conclusions: Accountability and Development Beyond Neoliberalism?