Global economic crisis, political instability and climate change have led academics and policy-makers to consider how 'development' in all parts of the world should be achieved. However, 'development' has always been a contested idea. While often presented as a positive process to improve people's lives, the potential negative dimensions of 'development' on people and environments must also be recognised.

Theories and Practices of Development provides a clear and user-friendly introduction to the complex debates around how development has been understood and...