Book Reviews - Introduction - Editor

It seems safe to say that 2005 is one of the most politically important years in recent history. The Make Poverty History campaign succeeded in bringing the issues of aid, trade and debt to the forefront of the West's political consciousness and, in doing so, has challenged the roles of the IMF, World bank and the World Trade Organisation. And it is not only the International Financial Institutions that have come in for increased criticism—there are increased doubts about the viability of the Millennium Development Goals and attendant calls for UN reform.

Whilst such discussions are extremely important and timely, the sheer range and complexity of the issues involved is enough to leave anybody feeling a tad bewildered. So it's DIA to the rescue, identifying and reviewing several key books. Arguments Against the G8 deals with the issues in general, Whose Hunger? and The End of Poverty look at two specific demands of the Make Poverty History campaign (aid and trade respectively) whilst Shake Hands with the Devil delves into the issue of UN reform—so there'll be no shortage of reading for you!