After a period in which the global economy appeared prosperous and stable, the economic crisis exposed the fragile foundations of the international financial system and has reshaped the landscape of global political economy. The fourth edition of this popular and widely used text takes full account of recent developments, while continuing to provide an accessible and historically grounded introduction to the field. The authors trace the evolution of the global economy, from its roots in the fifteenth century, through the Industrial Revolution, and to the post-1945 world order. They proceed to explore in detail the dynamics of global political economy in the twenty-first century, providing systematic coverage of the key spheres of activity, from trade, production and finance to social divisions, the environment, development, ideas, security and governance. Lucid, engaging and authoritative, Global Political Economy introduces an unusually wide range of theoretical approaches, moving beyond a traditional three-paradigm perspective to show how these theories can be applied and how useful they are for understanding key issues and developments.