State Building and Late Development

Why does state building sometimes promote economic growth and in other cases impede it? Through an analysis of political and economic development in four countries—Turkey, Syria, Korea, and Taiwan—this book explores the origins of political-economic...

David Waldner is Assistant Professor in the Department of Government and Foreign Affairs at the University of Virginia.

This is an ambitious project; it tells of the origins of institutions and success of strategies for economic development.... The argument is provocative, erudite, and wide-ranging; it will appeal to social scientists interested in learning more about how Middle East countries look in comparison to those of East Asia.

A compelling argument... Clearly written and carefully argued.

Saime Ozcurumez, McGill University:

Waldner's book makes an important contribution to Middle East area studies and the literature on development in general, thanks to its elegant rebuttal of monocausal arguments.... This book provides an important step forward in the study of comparative politics. It is a rare attempt to combine multiple variables into a sophisticated yet eloquent model that addresses important issues in the Middle East and developing world.

Michael Barnett, University of Wisconsin, Madison:

Waldner demonstrates in a masterly way the benefits of genuine comparative inquiry; contributes to our understanding of the painful results of economic development in the Middle East; and uses Middle Eastern cases to advance our understanding of the complicated and mediated linkage between state formation and economic development. This ambitious book deserves a wide audience.

Derek Hall:

David Waldner's book is an impressive contribution to the debate over economic growth and development in late-developing countries.