An insightful account of the recent histories of nearly two dozen states, Global Shift is a dynamic, nuanced study of what is sometimes referred to as the "Third World." Seeking to illuminate the deep economic chasm between the global East and West, Mike Mason presents a new perspective of decolonization, neocolonialism, and global capitalism in the context of the rise and decline of a hegemonic America. Global Shift begins with the end of the Second World War, telling the story of a ravaged, but still dominant West, as well as the emergence of the Third World — a zone of competition and contention ultimately engulfed by the rising tide of capitalist development. Mason suggests that historic focus on the West as the centre of the global economy may soon be superseded by the rise of the East Drawing on history, comparative politics, and development studies, Global Shift traces the contours of state histories from Asia, Africa, and Latin America to create a comprehensive portrait of the current state of global politics that is breathtaking in scope.