Wim Naudé

This book argues that the West is in economic decline due to three interrelated factors, described as the Guns-Oil-Oligarchy nexus. It explains how the rise of the West as the world's current hegemon has resulted in an ecological overshoot, the rise of neoliberalism and its slash-and-burn model of continuous growth, extraction, expansion and conquest. With this model pushing against planetary boundaries, threatening ecological disaster, and depleting many resources the Guns-Oil-Oligarchy nexus has deepened its stranglehold on society. This book then dissects the Guns-Oil-Oligarchy nexus. First it describes who the Oligarchs are and how they expand and consolidate their power and influence, and stifle innovation, undermine democracy, hinder responses to climate change, and contribute to militarization and conflict. Secondly, the book explains how Oil has been essential for the economic rise of the West and how it will feature in its decline. Third, the book identifies the rise and influence of the West's Military-Industrial Complex (MIC) as contributing to the West's economic decline. It is shown that the MIC constitutes an oligarchy and, like all oligarchies, uses lobbying, campaign contributions, and control of the mainstream media to expand and consolidate power. Silicon Valley's integration into the MIC is also examined, driven by the search for new profit opportunities as traditional markets become saturated. This book shows why the Guns–Oil–Oligarchy nexus is a simple explanation for the West's economic decline, and how its understanding offers a simple solution to avert further economic decline: the oligarchs' grip must be broken.

Guns, Oil and Oligarchs

The Economic Decline of the West

Mohammad Dastbaz

Jamileh Manoochehri

This book tackles the challenges posed by accelerating urbanization, and demystifies Social Sustainability, the least understood of all the different areas of sustainable development. The volume’s twin focus on these profoundly intertwined topics creates a nuanced and vitally important resource. Large migrations from rural areas to cities without appropriate planning and infrastructure improvements, including housing, education and health care optimization, have created significant challenges across the globe. The authors suggest technology-rich strategies to meet these challenges by careful application of data on population growth and movement to the planning, design, and construction of operational infrastructures that can sustainably support our increasingly rapid population growth.

Smart Futures, Challenges of Urbanisation, and Social Sustainability

Ludovico Alcorta

Adam Szirmai

"A study prepared by the World Institute for Development Economics Research of the United Nations University (UNU-WIDER), Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology of the United Nations University (UNU-MERIT), and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)."

New Challenges and Emerging Paradigms

Pathways to Industrialization in the Twenty-First Century

Mark McGillivray

Amelia U. Santos-Paulino

Fragile states are often mired in civil conflict. This volume focuses on the relationship between conflict and state stability and illustrates the causes and effects of fragile states on neighbouring countries and the global community.

Causes, Costs, and Responses

Fragile States

Amelia Santos-Paulino

Small island developing states (SIDS) are characterised by high economic, geographical and social vulnerability. These states are perceived as economically vulnerable, exhibiting poor economic performance, and embedding low levels of achieved well-being on most criteria. SIDS, which occupy very large parts of the world, face idiosyncratic development challenges largely owing to their susceptibility to external shocks. Still, these countries are all too often overlooked in the development research literature. Arising from a UNU-WIDER research project, this book provides in-depth research on the international dimensions of SIDS development experiences. Using a wealth of data, as well as case studies, the main topics examined comprise: aid, policies and growth; the costs of neglect, in terms of losses owing to a country falling into the fragile states group, of that country and those in its region; the composition of trade and the impact of external shocks, and the impact of remittances. The studies jointly provide valuable insights for small islands and other developing countries in the pursuit of sustainable growth and development. This book was published as a special issue of the Journal of Development Studies.

Wim Naudé

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