From international to global development: new geographies of 21st century development

Recent claims of 21st century global convergence and the ‘Rise of the
South’ point to a profound and ongoing redrawing of the global map of
development and inequality. This article synthesises shifting geographies of
development across economic, social and environmental dimensions, and
considers their implications for the ‘where’ of development. Some
convergence in aggregate development indicators for the global North and
South during this century challenge, now more than ever, the North-South
binary underlying international development. Yet convergence claims do
not adequately capture change in a world where development inequalities
are profound. Inter-country inequalities remain vast, while within-country
inequalities are growing in many cases. Particular attention is given here to
exploring the implications of such shifting geographies, and what those
mean for the spatial nomenclature and reference of development. We
conclude by arguing the need, now more than ever, to go beyond
international development considered as rich North/poor South and to
move towards a more holistic global development – where the global South
remains a key, although not exclusive, focus.