Development in Dangerous Places

A forum on global poverty and intervention

Boston Review – July/August 2009

Website: http://bostonreview.net/BR34.4/ndf_development.php

Paul Collier If richer states provide security, the poorest can finally grow

“The world's poorest countries have diverged from the rest of mankind. They will never tap their vast reservoir of frustrated human potential unless the international community provides basic public goods that go beyond the typical aid agenda.”

Stephen D. Krasner “If third parties play a more decisive role, there is some hope.”

William Easterly “Collier wants to de facto recolonize the ‘bottom billion.’ ”

Larry Diamond “Instead of imposing policies, reward states that invest in well-being and institutions.”

Edward Miguel “The premise that the poorest countries cannot grow ignores a decade of modest successes.”

Mike McGovern “Strategies that might work in one state should not be applied generally to the bottom billion.”

Nancy Birdsall “Consider other interventions, less exciting but better grounded in experience and evidence.”

Paul Collier Responds “My hope is to open discussion on an issue that has been too uncomfortable to face.”

“…..Structural difficulties in providing key public goods run so deep in certain countries that, in the coming decades, some of those countries will probably continue to diverge from global living standards. In this context, what international public action would be legitimate and effective? It will take a decade of debate to build a consensus answer to this question. While the policy discussion proceeds, citizens in the developed democracies should strive to better understand these issues: a more informed citizenry would improve the effectiveness of international action…..”