Politics and Poverty

At its foundation the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) was conceived as an organization which would manage the world's agricultural output and improve the well-being of its people. As the largest specialised agency of the United Nations, commitment and ideals were well-funded. Almost a half-century on, the FAO faces mounting criticism from its major funding nations, professionals within the field and from developing countries. The efficacy of its constitution, bureaucracy and aid - and even its fidelity to original ideals - are now being questioned. "Politics and Poverty" presents an insider's view of the FAO. John Abbott provides an historical analysis of the development of the FAO's structures and activities and he assesses the success of the organization in achieving its ultimate objective of poverty alleviation. Throughout, his concern is for both a more professional and more visionary organization. The author argues that only through reform can the FAO recover its purpose: to contribute to the project of sustainability in the developing world. This book should be of interest to lecturers, students and professionals in development studies, politics, agricultural economics and public administration.