Power...............................

     This is the first key moment in the history of the development idea as appealing to diverse—even opposite—groups.  Sun Yat-sen suggested the idea of technocratic development to resist European imperialism in China, while at the same time in Versailles the Allies suggested technocratic development to expand European imperialism in Africa.  The paradox is resolved if we remember what technocratic development takes for granted behind the scenes:  a benevolent autocrat.  The British Empire offered itself as a benevolent autocrat for the sake of development in Africa.  Sun Yat-sen offered himself as a benevolent autocrat for the sake of development in China.  The British were imperialist and Sun was anti-imperialist.  The common theme is what the technocratic emphasis on development as the goal obscures:  both Sun and the British simply wanted power.

-William Easterly:  The Tyranny of Experts: Economists, Dictators, and the Forgotten Rights of the Poor