Alchemy of Development

What if happiness is not a private pursuit, but a collective, political project? Alchemy of Development centres transformation through new ways of seeing, being, and doing. Bridging development studies with diverse religio-philosophical worldviews, it reimagines well-being as interconnected and public. The result is a shift: from addressing the visible manifestations of a faulty growth paradigm – inequality, conflicts, and ecological collapse – to understanding the deeper causes that sustain these crises. Exposing the deep-seated logic of separation and othering that normalizes exploitation of people and the planet, the book highlights interdependent, relational worldviews in which well-being is realized in the collective. Building on Bhutan’s development trajectory and drawing insights from across cultures, it advances a new politics of well-being. Ultimately, Alchemy of Development is a call to rethink how we live, govern, and relate to one another and to the world.