Development is a key concept for thinking about the global relations between nations, in particular between North and South. But what exactly does it entail and in which forms do development practices manifest themselves? Are we dealing with aid or with co-operation, or perhaps with encounter? And which motives, philosophies of life and ideas about the course of nations and other human communities are lurking behind the programs of actual development? Why has the concept become so popular, that it seems to have become a substitute for the concept of history? Could it be that development programs which are usually rationally conceived, evaluated and managed, betray hegemonic practices, despite the good intentions of donor nations and development agencies? Or are development programs aiming at integration of the South into a global market? If so, could it be that the belief in development is some kind of a secular, quasi-religious view on the ways nations and people must develop? We know after all that religion often is a motivating source for many people involved in development practices. These questions are addressed in short essays by eminent experts in the fields of development studies, cultural anthropology, development policy and social philosophy. They critically analyse the discourses used in development practices. The ultimate focus of the essays is on the ways in which political and development agencies deal with morality, religion and spirituality. The authors come from Great Britain, India, Indonesia and the Netherlands. This volume will be attractive to those working in the fields of development cooperation, missionary work and faith-based international solidarity. Book jacket.

With eighty percent of the world's population professing religious faith, religious belief is a common human characteristic. This fascinating and highly unique Handbook brings together state-of-the-art research on incorporating religion into development studies literature and research. The expert contributors illustrate that as religious identity is integral to a community's culture, exclusion of religious consideration will limit successful development interventions; it is therefore necessary to conflate religion and development to enhance efforts to improve the lives of the poor. Issues addressed include: key tenets, beliefs and histories of religions; religious response to development concerns (gender, environment, education, microfinance, humanitarian assistance); and the role of faith based organisations and missionaries in the wider development context. Practical case studies of countries across Africa, Eastern Europe and the Pacific (including Australia) underpin the research, providing evidence that the intersection between religion and development is neither new nor static. By way of conclusion, suggestions are prescribed for extensive further research in order to advance understanding of this nascent field. This path-breaking Handbook will prove a thought-provoking and stimulating reference tool for academics, researchers and students in international development, international relations, comparative religion and theology.

Development and Religion explores how the world s five major religions Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam understand and practice development through an examination of their sacred texts, social teaching and basic beliefs. Religious belief is a common human characteristic with eighty percent of the world s population professing religious faith. Observable in all societies, religious belief is pervasive, profound, persuasive and persistent. The premise of this book is that despite this, religion has long been ignored within mainstream development paradigms and by development practitioners (both locally and at the international level) resulting in sub-optimal development outcomes. Matthew Clarke argues that each religion offers useful insights into various issues concerning development that should be considered by donors, NGOs, and others seeking to improve the lives of the poor. Undergraduate and postgraduate students of development studies, religious studies and theology will gratefully welcome this highly regarded book.

This book examines how the beliefs and practices of each of the major world religions, as well as other belief systems, affect the variables that influence growth and development in the Global South. Evidence suggests that as countries develop, the influence of religion on all aspects of society declines. In stark contrast to the developed world, in the Global South, the role of religion is highly pervasive – the distinctive conclusion of this book is therefore that a lessening of religiosity is a sine qua non for growth and development, including secular laws and constitutions. Offering a ground-breaking study in an area little explored in the English language, this book will satisfy an important gap in the literature on the political economy of development, sociology of religion, law, and anthropology.

For years, academics and policy makers have claimed that economic progress would lead to a less religious world. Yet in practice, the very opposite has seemed to be true. Despite impressive advances in business and technology, citizens continue to hold strongly to their faiths, viewing the world through the prism of religious ideology even as they live increasingly modern lives. Religion and Development explores the enduring relationship between religion and economic development, focusing less on religious institutions and more on the ideas of religion. For certain people, religion exists as a separate dimension of life, often operating behind or in conjunction with drivers of development. Contributors argue that religious ideas are what motivate citizens to act and that adhering to a religious worldview results in specific outcomes. They particularly address the failure of technocratic visions of development to respond to the issues of everyday life. Exploring ways to harness religious resources for development, they also debate the belief that material advancement of individuals and communities is inseparable from spiritual improvement.