Serge Latouche is Professor of Political Economy at the University of Paris XI.

'In this intellectually sparkling and emotionally charged book, Serge Latouche criticizes the western model of civilization and development, which has become ever more pervasive in the wake of decolonization. Surveying the ruinous impact of westernization with a broad historical sweep and across continents, Latouche not only condemns its role in the deculturation and underdevelopment of the so-called 'Third World' but also highlights the possibilities offered, against all western theories, by the survival strategies of self-organizing marginalized communities.' Bob Jessop, Lancaster University

• Preface to the English Edition. Introduction.1. The Irresistible Rise of the West: The Crusaders' Revenge.2. Where and What is the West?.3. Uprooting the Planet.4. The Limits of World-wide Westernization.5. Beyond or Elsewhere.6. Must we Save Babel?.Appendices.Index.