Developing Societies in a Changing World

Developing Societies in a Changing World offers students a concise and accessible exploration of our developing and developed world. Readers learn about the origins of development, modernity, globalization, population dynamics and the increasingly interconnected nature of our world with the environment and how these connections influence our daily lives.

The opening chapters present students with basic concepts and empirical findings regarding development and the organization of the developed and developing world. The following chapters provide a chronological sequence of capitalist world development, beginning with the advent of colonialism, the rise of modern nation-states, and modern economies that formed the post-colonial era. The influence of modernity on prosperity and poverty leads into an overview of globalization and into the current restructuring of the global economy known as multipolar globalization. Students are also exposed to the dynamic relationship between population growth and well-being. The concluding chapter provides a detailed and comprehensive assessment of climate change, ranging from climate physics and social impacts to international policy efforts and ends with a close examination of proposed solutions to the planetary crisis.

The second edition features content changes in every chapter to bring the material up to date. New topics addressed include zoonosis and COVID-19, the social impacts of COVID-19, the Sustainable Development agenda (2015-2030), state-building in Africa, patronage in Cambodia, resettlement in Tanzania, autocratic governance, and democratic internationalism. In particular, the concluding chapter has been significantly revised to reflect the growing magnitude of climate change and intertwined social impacts. The volume concludes with a twofold examination that contrasts market and technological strategies for addressing climate change with that of the climate justice movement.

Designed to help students develop a greater understanding of the world and the environment that shapes it, Developing Societies in a Changing World is ideal for introductory courses with focus on developing societies and globalization.