This book examines the development of Latin America and Africa in the face of challenging political and economic crises.

1. Challenging the state: a decade of crisis; 2. Crisis and the state: evidence from Latin America and Africa; 3. Crisis and breakdown in Mexico and Kenya; 4. Imposing state authority; 5. Managing the economy; 6. Administering the public good; 7. Responding to society; 8. States of change.