The West and the Third World: Trade, Colonialism, Dependence and Development (History of the Contemporary World)

Rating:
Summary: Not one of his better books
Review: This book is loaded with statistics, involves some interesting ideas, and is written by an author with a strong institutional background. Unfortunately, it is very weak on content. The rewards from plodding through the often unnecessary information are minimal. Fieldhouse tries to protect himself in the introduction by saying that such phrases as the 'West' and 'Third World' are not accurate. This is true, but he writes as if he can use them anyways. He writes a chapter on East Asia after having admitted to not know anything about it. His conclusion states, basically, that the countries that did well all had good governments. No kidding. An experienced scholar might find some interesting arguments in this, but authors such as P. McMichael make this book look to be, well, openly incorrect. It may provide a good contrast that sparks discussion on the topic, but this book should not be read as a text.

Rating:
Summary: Not one of his better books
Review: This book is loaded with statistics, involves some interesting ideas, and is written by an author with a strong institutional background. Unfortunately, it is very weak on content. The rewards from plodding through the often unnecessary information are minimal. Fieldhouse tries to protect himself in the introduction by saying that such phrases as the 'West' and 'Third World' are not accurate. This is true, but he writes as if he can use them anyways. He writes a chapter on East Asia after having admitted to not know anything about it. His conclusion states, basically, that the countries that did well all had good governments. No kidding. An experienced scholar might find some interesting arguments in this, but authors such as P. McMichael make this book look to be, well, openly incorrect. It may provide a good contrast that sparks discussion on the topic, but this book should not be read as a text.