Gary A. Haugen

Although it took me a long time to get through, it was well worth the time spent. It's an impassioned and convincing argument about the importance of building strong law enforcement systems in developing countries that actually support the poor rather than working against them as so often the case. Haughen argues that whilst it is good to invest in education, health and other indicators of poverty, it is futile when those efforts to can be thrust from under you by violence and corruption. He argues that much of the corruption that exists in developing nations is a result of colonialism whereby law enforcement was primarily to protect the interests of the elites other than protecting the common people. A very important book.… (meer)

A year 2000 Finalist in the ECPA book competition! The good news about injustice is that God is against it. God is in the business of using the unlikely to accomplish justice and mercy. In this tenth-anniversary edition of Gary Haugen's challenging and encouraging book he offers stories of courageous Christians who have stood up for justice in the face of human trafficking, forced prostitution, racial and religious persecution, and torture. This expanded edition brings up to date his work in calling for the body of Christ to act. Throughout, he provides concrete guidance on how ordinary Christians can rise up to seek justice throughout the world.… (meer)

This was a phenomenal book arguing that the end of poverty requires the end of violence. If you think this is one of those 'anti-war' books, you are thinking too narrowly. A lot of what Haugen and Boutros are looking is violence within a given society which aggravates the suffering of the poor. Often things like rape, murder, abuse are illegal, but if the victim is poor, they have no hope of recourse through the legal system. There are systemic problems that allow for the poor to be continually victimized in much of the world (lack of resources for law enforcement, lack of training, lack of access to legal services, ineffective implementation, etc). Because Haugen's work with IJM he has heartbreaking story after heartbreaking story to tell.

But ultimately this isn't a depressing book but a hopeful one. Haugen and Boutros examine how first-world nations transformed in the last hundred years from mob rule (i.e. the American West) and oppressive military rule (Meiji era Japan) to societies which strive to protect and serve its most vulnerable members (yes I know this still isn't perfect, but we are a long way from the violence of yesteryear). Really thought-provoking stuff!… (meer)