The New Poverty Agenda, along with many other neo-liberal orthodoxies of the 1980s and early 1990s is withering away as rapid political and ideological shifts take place at the global level and within the domain of international development policy. Whilst this Bulletin celebrates that fact, it also urges caution.

First, because these are changes in attitude, not a great breakthrough in actually doing anything to reduce poverty.

Second, because neo-liberalism will not disappear over night but will remain influential for years to come.

Third, the Bulletin questions whether an internationally-defined anti-poverty agenda is really a good thing and will not serve to undermine rather than enhance anti-poverty efforts. It queries whether in fact we should seek to nationalise rather than internationalise the anti-poverty agenda in poor countries.