"The Grim Apparatus of Professional Scholarship"

So, who is Paul Collier? What qualifies him to talk about "failing" states? Why did the Oxford University Press allow this book of criticisms and solutions to be published? And, is this book intended to be used in graduate-level classrooms in the wealthy world, or does Collier have some other hope for his book?

Well, in his own words, Collier says that this book is "written to be read" and that he has structured it in a way so as to avoid the "grim apparatus professional scholarship" with excessive quotes and footnotes that might put off the average person who wants to understand the nature of the development crisis that some nations face.

In addition, in his proposed solutions is a section that deals specifically with what "ordinary people" can do to help create an environment conducive to development and success of nations that are currently "failing."

Collier's solutions are distinctly economic in origin; his proposals assume that an economic improvement in the 58 failing nations will by natural progression lead to social improvements. While this opinion is not controversial, some of the other opinions in his book are quite so. As we explore the main themes of the book, a few of those will be discussed.

So, that is Collier's book. The question of "Who Is Paul Collier" remains.

Paul Collier is currently a professor of Economics at Oxford University and Director of the Center for the Study of African Economics. According to his homepage, his areas of interest include governance of low income countries, civil war economies and aid. Collier is the former Director of the World Bank Development Research Group from 1998 to 2003. During his tenure as Director, Collier collaborated on several reports to the World Bank about the correlation between poverty, war and the role of foreign aid.

He clearly has the theoretical qualifications to talk about development and impediments to development. But, another question remains unanswered: "Are His Ideas Sound"

Let's see, shall we...