Development, inequality and climate change

This paper argues that attempts by privileged populations to help ’development‘ have been undermined, even outweighed,by other actions. The changing attitudes to overseas development assistance since World War II are reviewed. Climate change, which will impact extensively upon India, is presented as a case study of global inequality, although, more hopefully, as technology drives the costs of renewable energy lower,some affordable solutions may be emerging. Arguments that it is in the rational self-interest of societies and indeed the whole world to become more equal have also had little effect, despite phenomena such as the September 11, 2001 attacks and the rise of the Islamic State, which now attracts violent idealists from many countries..