Putting People First: Sociological Variables in Rural Development

The enthusiastic reception of the first edition of this book has prompted the editor and publishers to reissue it with extensive revisions and expansions, so that it is to a large extent a new volume. This second edition highlights, more explicitly than the first, issues related to natural resources management--particularly water, forests, and fisheries; the environmental implications of development programs; and the development of human capital through investments in grassroots organizations and participation. It also points to such adverse consequences of development as the risk of greater impoverishment for some marginal groups, the forced displacement and involuntary resettlement of populations, and the deterioration of common income-generating assets. The authors stress throughout the book the operational relevance of the sociologist's task. They draw lessons, both positive and negative, from many World Bank-assisted development projects, as well as projects supported by other international, bilateral, or national development agencies. The volume is divided into nine sections: (1) irrigation projects, (2) settlement and involuntary resettlement projects, (3) livestock projects, (4) fishery projects, (5) forestry projects, (6) rural road projects, (7) evaluation, (8) participation, and (9) collection of social data. Published for the World Bank by Oxford University Press.Cernea, Michael M. is the author of 'Putting People First: Sociological Variables in Rural Development' with ISBN 9780195208276 and ISBN 0195208277.