The greening of development theory: good news or bad news for the poor in the Third World?

Abstract

The present concern for the environment presents an important opportunity with which to pressurise governments and international organisations into making a greater effort to alleviate poverty in the developing world. However, the poor analysis of many environmentalists could actually result in them supporting policies that discriminate against the poor. This paper is concerned with the way in which such poor analysis could reinforce a number of questionable ideas held by others in the development field, such as the belief that a major cause of poverty and environmental destruction in the Third World is an increase in cash cropping. The paper also critically examines the often superficial analysis made by critics of the IMF and World Bank.