Overview

The twenty-first century will be defined by the fight against the scourges of poverty, inequality and the threat of environmental collapse; as the fight against slavery or for universal suffrage defined earlier eras. From Poverty to Power argues that it requires a radical redistribution of power, opportunities and assets to break the cycle of poverty and inequality and to give poor people power over their own destinies. The forces driving this transformation are active citizens and effective states. Why active citizenship? Because people living in poverty must have a voice in deciding their own destiny, fighting for rights and justice in their own society and holding states and the private sector to account. Why effective states? Because history shows that no country has prospered without a state structure than can actively manage the development process. There is now an added urgency beyond the moral case for tackling poverty and inequality: we need to build a secure, fair and sustainable world before climate change makes it impossible. This book argues that leaders, organisations and individuals need to act together, while there is still time.

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9780855985936

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Reviews

In telling us what can be achieved by ordinary people through organised action, this book generates hope even as it enhances understanding of what is involved in the removal of poverty. Amartya Sen A tour de forceA... At once shocking, realistic and radical, this book takes us further on the road to understanding the challenges of development and what needs to be doneA... It should inform and inspire all who are committed to policy and practice for a better world. Robert Chambers, author of Whose Reality Counts? Putting the Last First Oxfam's great strength is that it channels the moral outrage that global poverty evokes into effective action based on solid research. From Poverty to Power is a comprehensive look at development in this tradition. Dani Rodrik, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University A unique blend of solid academic understanding, serious activist experience, and political acumen. It deserves be a standard reference for social activists and policy-makers as well as a required reading for students in economics, politics, sociology, and development studies. Ha-Joon Chang, Department of Economics, University of Cambridge Will be of immense help to human rights organizations like Amnesty International in our campaigns to draw greater attention to the rights of the poor. Irene Khan, Secretary General, Amnesty International Does justice to raising the spectre of inequalities in the world between the world's richest and poorest people and countries. It contributes to a better understanding of what to do to reduce global poverty. Bineta Diop, Executive Director, Femmes Africa Solidarite Should be required reading for governments, development officials, and all those with an interest in the key challenges facing our civilisation. Senator Natasha Stott Despoja, Australian Democrats Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs

Author Information

Duncan Green has been Head of Research at Oxfam GB since 2004. He is the author of several books on Latin America, including Faces of Latin America (1997, third edition 2006) and Silent Revolution: The Rise and Crisis of Market Economics in Latin America (2003). He has been a Senior Policy Adviser on trade and development at the UK's Department for International Development (DFID) and Policy Analyst on trade and globalisation at CAFOD.

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