Politics and Development: A Critical Introduction

`If it′s a lucid, concise intellectual history of development theory you′re looking for – one with originality and political bite, you′ll find it in T[um]ornquist′s fine book′ – James C Scott, Yale University

`This book introduces the student to the politics of development in the postcolonial world by familiarising them with the main debates on the subject. I can think of no better way of doing it′ – Mahmood Mamdani, University of Cape Town

`Through a wide ranging critique of influential conceptualisations of the ′Third World′, and by focussing on the symbiosis between politics and development, Tornquist opens the way for a fresh understanding of how late developing societies can be democratised′ – Neera Chandhoke, University of Delhi

`A pleasant, wide-ranging and ambitious textbook Olle Tornquist has written. It is pleasant because of the authors frankness about his own preferences combined with an openess towards diverging views; it is wide-ranging in the theoretical space it covers; and it is ambitious in the way it proposes a “best practice” within the study of politics and development….I recommend the book to anyone interested in entering a stimulating discussion on the subject′ – The European Journal of Development Research

Olle Törnquist is Professor of Politics and Development in the Department of Political Science at Oslo University and Reader in Political Science at Uppsala University.