With increased communications, migration and integration, distances are shrinking in a changing and globalised world. At the same time, the gaps between different groups of people are widening and there is growing complexity. How is development to be understood in such a context?Politics and development in a globalised world is a comprehensive introduction to this broad and exciting field. It presents historical and contemporary theories and approaches to social change and discusses the policies and practice adopted by various actors in promoting development in myriad local and global processes. In so doing the book crosses boundaries in time, place and subject matters.More specifically, the authors analyse the interplay between states, markets and societies and consider old and new actors in international development co-operation. In addition, they highlight core issues in development such as democratisation, poverty, equality, justice, security, migration, global health, environment and climate change. Finally, they discuss ways to study and bring about development and also to tackle future political and developmental challenges.The book is suitable for university courses but is also aimed at a broader public with an interest in development questions.