Rural Development Policy in the Global South

This book provides a comprehensive and authoritative examination of rural development policy in the Global South, addressing a significant gap in the existing literature by foregrounding perspectives, experiences and policy debates from developing countries. Drawing on theoretical insights, empirical research and evidence-based analysis, it advances contemporary discussions on rural development across diverse socio-economic and political contexts in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.

By bringing together interdisciplinary perspectives, the volume offers a nuanced understanding of the opportunities, challenges and emerging directions shaping rural development policy in the twenty-first century. The chapters explore a wide range of policy approaches, governance frameworks and institutional strategies adopted across the Global South, examining both the design and implementation of rural development policies within diverse national and regional contexts. With chapters from distinguished educators, researchers, policy experts and practitioners, this volume presents theoretically informed and empirically grounded contributions focusing on Indonesia, India, Iraq, Malaysia, Bolivia, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago and Nigeria, alongside broader regional perspectives on Southern Africa and EU-Africa relations.

This book will serve as an essential resource for students, researchers, educators, development practitioners and policy professionals working in development studies, rural studies, sociology, anthropology, social work, public policy, social policy, geography and related disciplines. It will also be of particular value to policymakers, international development agencies and civil society organisations engaged in designing, implementing and evaluating rural development initiatives.