Amazon.com description: Product Description: Friedmann argues that poverty should be seen not merely in material terms, but as social, political and psychological powerlessness. He presents the case for an alternative form of development committed to empowering the poor in their own communities, and to mobilizing them for political participation on a wider scale. In contrast to centralized development, devised and implemented at the national and international levels, this alternative development aims to restore the initiative to those in need, on the grounds that unless people have an active role in directing thier own destinies long-term progress will not be achieved.