The politics of self-help: The Rockefeller Foundation, philanthropy and the 'long'Green Revolution

This article critically examines the historical political investment in "self-help" by philanthropy, particularly focusing on the Rockefeller Foundation’s role in promoting rural development and the "long" Green Revolution. It argues that modern self-help concepts originated in early 20th-century philanthropic practices that sought to instill self-reliance in individuals and communities. The paper documents early agricultural extension work in the US South, illustrating how modernization efforts aimed to transform traditional peasants into productive, enterprising subjects, thus shaping a new global order.