Whether we like it or not, we are subject to politics wherever we go and in whatever we are doing. Development is always and everywhere political, and frequently occurs with the interests of the powerful at the forefront. Can we hope to better understand the politics that shapes and controls our lives and dominates the lives of others around the globe?

In this concise volume, Adam Sneyd argues that it is imperative to recognize the importance of the sub-field of development politics. He demonstrates how the difficult skill of careful political analysis can shed new light on some of today’s most intractable development challenges. Sneyd shows how conflicts over ideas can entrench underdevelopment, and he conveys why we need better analyses of development politics to fight the status quo and expedite inclusive change.

Adam Sneyd is an associate professor with the Department of Political Science, University of Guelph.