Book review: the history of development: from western origins to global faith by Gilbert Rist

In the fourth edition of this influential development text, Gilbert Rist aims to trace the concept of development from its origins in the Western view of history, through the early stages of the world system, the rise of US hegemony, the supposed triumph of the third world, through to new concerns about the environment and globalization. Kate Donald disagrees with some of the author’s key arguments though finds that much of his analysis is deeply relevant and demands serious thought.