Since its hard-won independence from Pakistan Bangladesh has been ravaged by economic and environmental disasters. Only recently has the country begun to emerge as a fragile but functioning parliamentary democracy. The story of Bangladesh told through the pages of this concise and readable book is a truly remarkable one. By delving into its past and through an analysis of the economic political and social changes that have taken place over the last twenty years the book explains how Bangladesh is becoming of increasing interest to the international community as a portal into some of the key issues of our age. In this way the book offers an important corrective to the view of Bangladesh as a failed state.

1. Introduction; 2. A state in the making; 3. Towards Bangladesh: British and Pakistani rule; 4. State politics and institutions; 5. Non-governmental actors and civil society; 6. Economic development and transformation; 7. Population natural resources and environment; 8. Conclusion: Bangladesh faces the future.