The essential guide to the world's most influential development thinkers, this authoritative text presents a unique guide to the lives and ideas of leading contributors to the contested terrain of development studies.

Reflecting the diverse, interdisciplinary nature of the area, the book includes entries on:

* modernisers like Hirshman, Kindleberger and Rostow

* dependencistas such as Frank, Cardoso and Amin

* progressives like Prebisch, Helleiner and Streeten

* political leaders enunciating radical alternative visions of development, such as Mao, Nkrumah and Nyerere

* progenitors of religiously or spiritually inspired development, such as Gandhi and Ariyaratne

* development-environment thinkers like Blaikie, Brookfield and Shiva.

This is a fascinating and readable introduction to the major figures that have shaped the field, ideal for anyone studying or working in the area.