The Political Economy of Land Degradation: Pressure Groups, Foreign Aid and the Myth of Man-Made Deserts (IEA Studies on the Environment)

Rating:
Summary: The Fearful Void
Review: On my first visit to Los Angeles I could not see the nearby desert for almost a week due to the smog. When it finally was visible I realised that a desert was not merely like those which were photographed so well in Lawrence of Arabia, but were much more complex and diverse than I had ever imagined.

I am using those remarks to preface my review of this book because the contents opened up my mind to a much more diverse view of some of the most fundamental institutions of economic development, particularly the big three of United Nations, World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. During my studies in Development Economics at the University of Northumbria, I had come to accept the explanation of the phenomena of expanding deserts given in many books and periodicals as due to overuse and over-exploitation.

This book blows the whole concept out of the water with a well argued and substantiated critique of the traditional explanations and the role that the supra-national organisations in conjunction with national governments in perpetrating such fictions. Julian Morris has done the developing world in particular a service in highlighting an economics of politics approach which shows the powerful position these organisations abise in manipulating the press, public and academic opinion to reflect their ulterior motives of bureau creation and expansion at the cost of immense human misery and loss of life.

Morris not only exposes the myths that are perpetuated and the extent to which the rich and powerful of the international community use these for their own ends but he also shows how the so-called peasants, looking after their own interests not only rationally take actions which prevent desertification, such as it is, but also are the best private solutions for reclamation.

This fascinating account is as gripping as many novels. In many respects it is like a novel as so much of it is hard to believe given the degree of academic and media manipulation which has occurred. Morris displays great tenacity in his research and observations and his closely argued work demonstrates considerable concentration to prove his point. I am particularly fond off his expose of the issue of the Land Degradation in the United States which he attaches as an appendix to the main text.

This is a courageous piece of work which deserves greater exposure to the widest possible audience.