Real paradigm shifts are rare phenomena, and professionals are rightly cautious about claims in this regard. This thoughtful book, however, advocates just such a shift in the development field, and advances a reasoned case in its support. Its author hopes to open the door to a rather different way of looking at historical processes of development. Dr Rihani, an engineer with long experience of development, takes as his starting point the undoubted paradigm shift which is taking hold in the natural sciences. He argues that the emerging science of complexity can also illuminate the flawed nature of customary assumptions about causality, certainty and universality in the way nations develop.

Ranging over a wide terrain of social, political and economic thinking and specific country experiences, the author explains the key concepts in complex systems theory and their possible applications in development practice. He examines various development issues and institutions in the light of what he sees as the limitations of rigid linear thinking in an essentially fluid, non-linear world. Little wonder, he concludes, that the results of half a century of development effort have been so disappointing.

If development thinkers take up this book's invitation to apply the new thinking to the processes which they seek to understand and manage, Dr Rihani's work will have made an exceptional contribution to the theory and practice of development.