In the following article rent seeking and the self interest of the ruling elites are identified as major reasons why development in many underdeveloped countries is not combing into existence. A proposal is made to substitute conventional development aid by ”global social policy” in cases in which ‘Third world countries” are shakened by deep economic and/or political crisis (hunger, civil war etc.). This so called humanitarian intervention is legitimized by the basic documents of the United Nations like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Further on arguments are given how to operationalize ”global social policy”. Discussed is the acceptance of the measures to be taken in the South as well as in the North.
