This book critically examines the roles played by developing countries, in partnership with major multilateral agencies and their bilateral counterparts, in addressing agricultural and rural development as a way to achieve economic transformation and food for all. The book explores the questions of what member nations of the United Nations, working with international organizations, have been able to achieve thus far in food and agriculture and in economic transformation; how they have responded to the rapidly changing external environment and factors internal to the organizations; and how well equipped they are to address future challenges of poverty, food security and nutrition, inequality, climate change, degradation of natural resources, and conflict, in the face of rapidly deteriorating natural resources and advancing science. Discovering the answers to these questions makes this discussion all the more urgent. Most importantly, we explore the roles of the traditional international organizations established in the post-Second World War period vis-à-vis new actors, philanthropists, and the private sector in contributing to growth and development. The COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare the structural weaknesses among the mightiest economies of income inequalities, lack of universal access to health, and lack of trust in government. Smaller Asian Tigers—Taiwan, Singapore, and South Korea—in addition to China, where the pandemic originated—had smarter responses, demonstrating their superior state capacity. What are the lessons of history for national, regional, and global governance?
Introduction