A Bit Too Simple: Narratives of Development, Sustainability and Climate Change

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Mette Fog Olwig (Department of Social Sciences and Business, Roskilde University)

A Bit Too Simple

Narratives of Development, Sustainability and Climate Change

Mette Fog Olwig (Department of Social Sciences and Business, Roskilde University)

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English

Cambridge University Press
30 October 2025

Development studies; Global warming; Sustainability

Series: Elements of Sustainability: Science, Policy, Practice

Narratives like those portraying development workers as heroes and local populations as victims needing to be saved from their own unsustainable practices have led to problematic policies and interventions. Based on fieldwork across four continents, this Element critically analyzes such metanarratives. First, it demonstrates the ways their simplifying, universalistic narrative plots fail to capture more complex lived realities. Second, it argues that such metanarratives on development are converging with influential metanarratives on climate change and sustainability, thereby strengthening hierarchical geopolitical mindsets. Third, it uncovers how the emergence of for-profit sustainability superhero metanarratives reinforces universalistic development logics by combining these logics with global business management logics. The Element concludes that a multiplicity of locally grounded stories and related forms of agency must be mobilized and recognized so that policy and practice are premised upon lived realities, not abstract and unrealistic global imaginaries. This title is also available as open access on Cambridge Core.

By: Mette Fog Olwig (Department of Social Sciences and Business Roskilde University)
Imprint: Cambridge University Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Weight: 271g
ISBN: 9781009714013
ISBN 10: 1009714015
Series: Elements of Sustainability: Science, Policy, Practice
Pages: 92
Publication Date: 30 October 2025
Audience: College/higher education , Further / Higher Education
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Reviews for A Bit Too Simple: Narratives of Development, Sustainability and Climate Change

'Development is a hotbed for simplistic solutions on the behalf of others. Yet, as Olwig shows through a series of vivid examples, no problem looks the same to all concerned, and any solution is inherently political, contentious and negotiated.' Christian Lund, University of Copenhagen 'Mette Fog Olwig takes readers by surprise in her careful analysis of how the reality disappears in the details of global development narratives. It is a must read for students and researchers of global south development politics.' Christine Noe, University of Dar es Salaam 'Quick-fix solutions and simplified blame games are, unfortunately, still rife in global efforts to combat complex development and sustainability problems. If, like me, you've often wondered what is wrong with these narratives, why they continue to be regurgitated so fervently and how to move beyond them, read this wonderful, pithy book by Mette Fog Olwig. It will be your clear-eyed guide to recognize false distractions and, instead, focus more effectively on valuable grounded realities.' Bram Büscher, Wageningen University