As power and politics play a role in every society, rich or poor, Bates argues it is the reorganization of coercion--not its extinction--that underpins the security needed for investment. Although history makes clear that political structures can be used for destructive ends, it also demonstrates their importance in ensuring the peace needed for prosperity. In this revised edition, Bates strengthens his critique of development studies and development agencies, basing it on his analysis of the nature of states that emerged following WWII.

Robert H. Bates is Eaton Professor of the Science of Government in the Department of Government and Fellow of the Center for International Development at Harvard University. He has written numerous books, most recently Open Economy Politics (1997) and Analytic Narratives (1998). He has conducted extensive field research in East and Central Africa and in Columbia and Brazil.