Includes bibliographical references (pages 313-332) and index.

November 9, 1989 -- The surge. A great transformation ; Breakthrough from the bottom ; The wealth of a new generation ; More children now live- and live better ; Dictators out, democracy in -- The catalysts. Good-bye Cold War, so long Communism ; Hello globalization, welcome new technologies ; Leadership, civil society, action-- and a bit of luck ; Foreign aid : blessing or curse? -- The future. Future 1. Progress expanded : a new age of global prosperity ; Future 2. Progress diminished : stuck muddling through ; Future 3. Progress derailed : climate and conflict halt development ; Getting to good.

"The Great Surge tells the remarkable story of this unprecedented economic, social, and political transformation. It shows how the end of the Cold War, the development of new technologies, globalization, courageous local leadership, and in some cases, good fortune, have combined to dramatically improve the fate of hundreds of millions of people in poor countries around the world. Most importantly, The Great Surge reveals how we can fight the changing tides of climate change, resource demand, economic and political mismanagement, and demographic pressures to accelerate the political, economic, and social development that has been helping the poorest of the poor around the world,"--Amazon.com.