West African Worlds: Paths through Socio-economic Change, Livelihoods and Development provides a critical assessment of social, economic and political change in Africa's most populous, most balkanised and, arguably, most externally-orientated region. Centering on the diversity which inheres in livelihood pursuits and development interventions at different scales and in a variety of localities, the book combines a focus on livelihoods and development with a rejuvenated role for the state in development intervention and mediation. Main features An issues-based approach highlighting possible paths through the study of society and nature which bridges the region's linguistic and political divides Multi-level analyses of diversity and change from a range of disciplinary perspectives, including fictional writing Examples and case studies cover the full range of geographic scales, combining broader-scale political economy with individual, household and group livelihood concerns An impressive mix of West African and West Africanist voices from a variety of geographical locations Highlights both the unity and diversity of regional contexts in the pursuit of livelihoods and for the practice of development Focuses on both evolutionary and transformational changeCombines theory and application with policy and practiceWest African Worlds is essential reading for undergraduate and postgraduate students taking courses in Development Studies, Geography, Politics, Anthropology and Sociology. It will also be of interest to researchers, policy makers, development planners and practitioners, as well as anyone with an interest in socio-economic dynamics and change in the region. Reginald Cline-Cole is Senior Lecturer in Geography in the Centre of West African Studies at the University of Birmingham. Elsbeth Robson is Lecturer in Development Studies in the School of Earth Sciences and Geography at Keele University.Series Editor: David Simon