The Divide

A Brief Guide to Global Inequality and its Solutions

Paperback, 347 pages

English language

Published May 17, 2018 by Windmill Books.

ISBN:
978-1-78609-003-4
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5 stars (9 reviews)

· The richest eight people control more wealth than the poorest half of the world combined.

· Today, 60 per cent of the world’s population lives on less than $5 a day.

· Though global real GDP has nearly tripled since 1980, 1.1 billion more people are now living in poverty.

For decades we have been told a story: that development is working, that poverty is a natural phenomenon and will be eradicated through aid by 2030. But just because it is a comforting tale doesn’t make it true. Poor countries are poor because they are integrated into the global economic system on unequal terms, and aid only helps to hide this.

Drawing on pioneering research and years of first-hand experience, The Divide tracks the evolution of global inequality – from the expeditions of Christopher Columbus to the present day – offering revelatory answers to some of humanity’s greatest problems. …

5 editions

An indespensible book for understanding global poverty and inequality

5 stars

This book went into a lot of detail, from which I was able to learn quite a lot. It mainly covers the inner workings of the current global economy and answers the question of how poor countries came to be poor and why they will stay poor. In this sense, the book pretty much outdid itself in every regard.

The Divide covers the history of Colonialism and Capitalism as to show how europe enriched themselves by underdeveloping the global south. Hickel takes a look at various sources and historical data to show just how many natural resources (e.g. Gold and Silver) were stolen and the genocide of the indigenous population that followed. Additionally, the author takes a look at many military coups supported by the West and the consequences as such. Hickel goes into great detail explaining how Neoliberalism was born and its first trial in Chile after a coup, …

A brief guide to global inequality

5 stars

The mainstream narrative, pushed by personalities like Bill Gates and Steven Pinker, tells us that the world is getting better: poverty, disease, hunger are declining, and despite some inevitable setbacks, the trend toward progress is clear. There's only a problem with this story: it isn't true. In The Divide Jason Hickel illustrates the causes of global inequality, from colonialism to military coups, to debt and the present economic system, and shows why the narrative about progress and development is just a delusion. The divide between rich and poor countries is increasing, but it doesn't have to be this way. Poor countries are not poor because of some law of nature, but as a consequence of human intervention. Changing the current economic system to build a more fair and just world depends on us.

Review of 'The Divide' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

The Sapiens book for capitalism. The economic history of the last 500 years. Why poor countries are poor and why rich countries are rich. What does the IMF, the World Bank, and the WTO do. What's up with all those NGOs in Africa.

These are some of questions this book answers. Other reviews said it feels like taking the red pill and leaving the Matrix; it is exactly that. And the answers will make you outrageous.

Maybe you won't learn anything new; global equality is a major issue and we all know it. But the analysis, the facts, and the details this book presents helped me understand virtually everything about the current global economic system. I now feel much more confident to gauge what any economic policies are about.

Great book.

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