Now reorganized and updated throughout, the fifth edition of this well-regarded global issues text continues to reflect the most important aspects of an increasingly globalized world. The biggest change to this edition is a reorganization into shorter chapters better suited to use in semester-long courses. These changes include an enhanced focus on development, climate change, pollution, and governance. This textbook remains the only survey-level text in the field to unite the perspectives and approaches of geography, political science, sociology, ecology, international relations, economics, and development studies.With coverage of topics ranging from wealth, poverty, and population to food, energy, and natural resources, this text moves beyond the international to be truly global in focus. It is perfect for undergraduates with its dynamic and accessible narrative as well as many student-friendly features, such as chapter boxes, a glossary of terms, guides to further reading, media and Internet resources. Building on the success of prior editions, this introduction gives students the information they need to understand the essential environmental, economic, social, and political issues of the world today.