BETTER POLICIES AND INTERNATIONAL GOVERNANCE

The World Development Report represents a welcome change from the Worl d Bank's previous conceptions of the state and development. It is more nuanced, and recognises the intimate relationships between economics and other realms - notably politics - as well as the complexity of the se links. The role of states and institutions in development is finall y taken seriously, as is the necessity for their reinvigoration and fo r increasing their capabilities. However, the strictly political dimen sion of these states must be more deeply analysed, and attention paid to international governance, which is particularly important for weak states in a globalised world. These issues are important if the World Bank itself is to be a more effective actor and more successfully prom ote reform.