"Globalisation has been an important social phenomenon in the contemporary world order. The world has become, in important respects, a single social system, as a result of which now virtually affects everyone. The global system is not just an environment within which particular societies develop and change. The social, political and economic connections, which crosscut borders between countries decisively, condition the fate of those living within each of them. But, the central question remains: Is this interdependence of world society really real or tilted in favour of the richer nations? This book presenting a collection of papers touches this central question with a variety of approaches and perspectives. Apart from the rich theoretical debate often turning into polemic with regard to globalisation, empirical studies show a clear hiatus in the prevailing world order in the aftermath of globalisation under the aegis of richer nations of the North. The essays covering a wide range of issues will interest academics and practitioners concerned with the rapidly growing field of globalisation studies."