ABSTRACT
Public awareness and concern about global inequality and conditions of widespread routine suffering in specific parts of the world emerged during the twentieth century. This social phenomenon and global condition came to be conceived in terms of poverty and development, and became an object of institutionalised social inquiry and policy. Specific bodies of theories, conceptual frameworks and terminology arose, influenced by existing philosophical and methodological commitments as well as by the prevailing geo-political context. In the twentieth century’s intellectual division of labour poverty and development were the concerns primarily of Development Studies, and to a lesser extent International Relations (IR). Social inquiry about this global social condition was conducted not only in universities but also by government policy departments, international organisations, philanthropic or non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and think-tanks. The ideas in this area have varied in form, tone and content, subject to a variety of political, theoretical and philosophical as well as empirical influences and determinations. This chapter surveys the academic and institutional approaches to the problem of poverty and development in Africa which have risen to prominence during the twentieth century.
