Development is a process relieving a country from a state of underdevelopment through economic growth; specifically, such a variable is related to schooling, life expectancy, lower birth fertility, justice, and to an increasing level of political rights. However, the consideration for the role of institutions is a specific attribute of development. Notwithstanding the reliance of development on economic growth and democracy is reported by many authors, the relation between political and economic freedom is more debated. The contribution of classical political economists, the increasing inter-dependence of nations, and the historical context of a new world order based on capitalism, its core-periphery dynamics, globalism, and expansionary processes are inspected to assess the issues with development. The books considers two cases: -Timor's three waves of development and the relative insights on the positive or negative impact of including the customary and the traditional in any kind of development initiative. -The Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia, its Marxist ideology and economic autarky combined with a xenophobic Nationalism finalized at the cultural annihilation of the opposing alternative's cultural heritage.See the author's blog for more: www.bamboos-consulting.com