-----------

A Palestinian state alongside a secure Israel is the sine qua non of a stable peace between Arabs and Israelis, and at this late date would realize a modicum of the Palestinians' moral and legal territorial rights (roughly equal to those of the Jews/Israelis), and a long-standing aspiration for self-determination. A defense of the "two-state" option, and a qualified defense of the Oslo Accords against Islamist and radical Jewish rejectionist critics is therefore offered. Besides satisfying Palestinian aspirations, Palestinian statehood would help open the way to a comprehensive peace between the Arabs and Israel, through a just, negotiated settlement of the Syrian/Lebanese-Israeli territorial disputes. A comprehensive peace, in turn, should stimulate economic and cultural cooperation between Israel and the Arab countries (the "peace dividend"), lending it additional strength. Increased stability should also result from the hoped-for liberalization and democratization of the region's Arab regimes.

In this classic collection, some of the world's most eminent critics of development review the key concepts of the development discourse. Each essay examines one concept from a historical and anthropological point of view, highlights its particular bias, and exposes its historical obsolescence and intellectual sterility. The authors argue that a bidding farewell to the whole Eurocentric development idea is urgently needed, in order to liberate people’s minds in both North and South for bold responses to the environmental and ethical challenges now confronting humanity. The combined result forms a must-read invitation to experts, grassroots movements and students of development to recognize the tainted glasses they put on whenever they participate in the development discourse.

Papers presented at the conference held in 2003-2004 at Ahmedabad, India, organized by Department of Philosophy, Gujarat University.