This is a reference book on 235 countries and territories of the world, covering the history, politics and economics of development. It focuses on the major development issues facing the world at the end of the 20th century: biodiversity; deforestation; climatic changes; water; indigenous peoples; social models; women; ecology; education; health; childhood; labour; child labour; science and technology; industrialisation; the car; communications; nuclear energy; development; globalisation; transnationals; speculative economy; debt; aid; the UN; refugees and arms.