The Violence of Development : Resource Depletion, Environmental Crises and Human Rights Abuses in Central America

This book examines the failure of ‘development’ in Central America, where despite billions of dollars of development funding and positive indicators of economic growth, poverty remains entrenched and violence endemic. Martin Mowforth shows how development is predicated on force and systematic violence, through which the world's most powerful governments, financial institutions and companies punish the global south. Crucially, the analysis in __The Violence of Development__ comes from many development project case studies and over sixty interviews with a range of people in Central America, including nuns, politicians, NGO representatives, trade unionists, indigenous leaders and human rights defenders. This book is a compelling synthesis of first-hand research and development theory. The Violence of Development examines the failure of 'development' in Central America, where despite billions of dollars of development funding and positive indicators of economic growth, poverty remains entrenched and violence endemic. Martin Mowforth shows how development is predicated on force and systematic violence with which the world's most powerful governments, financial institutions and companies punish the global south through economic gangsterism. Crucially, the analysis in The Violence of Development comes from many development project case studies and over sixty interviews with a range of people in Central America, including nuns, politicians, NGO representatives, trade unionists, indigenous leaders and human rights defenders. This book is a compelling synthesis of first-hand research and development theory. Examines The Failure Of Development In Central America, Where Despite Billions Of Dollars Of Funding And Positive Indicators Of Economic Growth, Poverty Remains Entrenched And Violence Endemic. Food : For Whose Table? -- Water : Flowing In The Wrong Direction -- Energy : Powerful Forces -- Mining : All That Glitters... -- Deforestation And Reforestation : Can't See The Wood For The Trees -- Industrialisation And Free Trade Treaties : From Slavery To Sweatshop -- Indigenous Groups : The Fourth World Fights Back -- The Violence Of Development : Human Rights Defenders Against The Wall -- Whither Development? Martin Mowforth. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Cover Contents List of Figures, Tables and Boxes List of Abbreviations and Acronyms Acknowledgements Preface 1. Introduction 2. Food: For Whose Table? 3. Water: Flowing in the Wrong Direction 4. Energy: Powerful Forces 5. Mining: All That Glitters... 6. Deforestation and Reforestation: Can't See the Wood for the Trees 7. Industrialisation and Free Trade Treaties: From Slavery to Sweatshop 8. Indigenous Groups: The Fourth World Fights Back 9. The Violence of Development: Human Rights Defenders against the Wall 10. Whither Development? Notes Select Bibliography Index Compelling analysis revealing the endemic violence and systematic impoverishment at the heart of 'development'.