This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts covered in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book examines the macrodynamics of globalization and antiglobalization in the world economy, with particular reference to developments in Latin America and Asia. It explores some of the macrodynamics of this process as well as some strategic and political responses to these dynamics. Appearances and arguments to the contrary, globalization is neither inevitable nor immutable. Over the next five decades the development process was advanced on the basis of diverse models designed to bring about the modernization and development of societies in the capitalist world. The idea of 'development' was predicated on identifiable improvements in the socioeconomic conditions lived by a larger part of the world's population and the corresponding changes in the structure of institutionalized practices needed to bring about these improvements.