This is a thought-provoking and ultimately optimistic book about the future of developing countries. The author argues that many of the causes of ' bad government' in these countries lie in inequality in the global economy and in the ways rich and powerful countries, and the international institutions they control, impact on small, poor and fragile countries. The book examines:

" How financial surpluses obtained from oil, gas and minerals exports can corrupt Southern political systems
" The narcotics policies imposed by the North
" The arms trade
" Money laundering through off-shore financial havens and globalization of finance
" The emergence of large private military corporations
" Corruption instigated by multinational corporations
" The North's provision of development aid

These factors, the author argues, interact with one another. He draws the lesson that there is much that rich countries like the US, Britain, and the rest of the EU can do to reform their own policies and the global institutional environment to facilitate better governance, and so better development prospects in the south.