Paper short abstract:

A new geography of global development is emerging, as highlighted in the SDGs. Yet this paper argues that it is rising powers and “little d” transformation in wealth, poverty, inequality and trade, which have driven the transition to a new, uncertain spatial framing of development.

Paper long abstract:

With what has been referred to as the post-2015 moment, it has become increasingly common to talk of the "universalization", and a global framing, of development. This involves a clear shift of development studies and development intervention beyond the traditional, and influential, spatial distinction of "developed" and "developing countries" and related terms. This article reviews the shifting geographies underlying what is increasingly being called global development. It is suggested that while such a move beyond the traditional spatial focus of international development on developing countries is most dramatically emphasised in the formation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it did not begin with the SDGs. Instead, it can be situated within major shifts within the world economy and the associated geography of wealth, poverty, inequality and trade over the last half century. Tracing changes in both "little d" immanent transformation and "big D" development intervention, this paper identifies the key role of the rising powers in this transition to a global development era. While the issue of sustainable development has provided the most momentum to the need to take a more universal approach, considerable work remains to more fully outline and understand this emerging global development era and the messier map of development which it entails.