ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the nature of global poverty and its impact on children. Global poverty is shocking; so for that matter is all chronic poverty and inequality. Most actions to address chronic poverty in low and middle income countries have been minor and ameliorative, and they have frequently failed because they require fundamental global scale economic reform. People are justifiably concerned over the impact of poverty on children's lives, especially in low income countries, and want to do something about it. The chapter examines how interpretations of neuroscientific ideas in early childhood have been used by international organizations to promote a particular view of international development. It focuses, in particular, on how "brain science" is being used to support particular programmes and assumptions in developing countries. It argues that its usage derives from socio-economic liberalism, and that it reflects a kind of cultural hegemony that verges on racism.
