Why do so many international development projects fail? Is it because poor regions are inherently corrupt, or is it because developers and donors do not properly take into account how local survival mechanisms work? In a lively and provocative analysis of community development, Michael Rosberg challenges the received wisdom of international developers, suggesting that in order for development to be successful it must speak directly to the self-interest of individuals in targeted communities. In an accessible, personal work, the author navigates the thickets of theory and ideology to arrive at pragmatic strategies that demonstrate that when an individual's self-interest is creatively and appropriately engaged, the greater good of the community can be well served.

Author Biography

Michael Rosberg was born and raised in Niagara Falls, Canada. He was educated at Cornell University, the University of Toronto, the State University of New York at Buffalo, and the University of Wisconsin, with a PhD in Development Studies from the Land Tenure Centre. Currently, he is a Lecturer at the University of Belize in Central America and a socio-economic consultant for multi-lateral organisations and Belizean NGOs.