The Causes and Consequences of Ahistoricism in International Development

Join us for a thought-provoking talk with composer, writer and historian Michael Gubser as he presents key arguments from his new book, Their Future: A History of Ahistoricism in International Development (Yale University Press, 2025). Drawing on this important work, Gubser will examine how ahistorical thinking has shaped the field of international development, tracing its different forms as well as their causes and long-term effects.

The talk will also revisit one of the most influential models in development history: Paul Rosenstein-Rodan’s concept of the “big push.” Gubser will explore how a framework originally devised to industrialize Eastern Europe was later applied to societies in Asia, Africa and Latin America, often with little adjustment for regional contexts, and reflect on what this legacy reveals about enduring assumptions in development policy.

Public and Community Events | View More Events

School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Contact the organizers