Although the academic study of development is well established, as is also its policy implementation, less considered are the broader, more popular understandings of development that often shape agendas and priorities, particularly in representative democracies.

Through its accessible and provocative chapters, "Popular Representations of Development" introduces the idea that while the issue of development defined broadly as problems of poverty and social deprivation, and the various agencies and processes seeking to address these is normally one that is discussed by social scientists...