Dietmar Rothermund broadens the conventional focus of the great depression to include its impact on the countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America. The book: * gives the economic background to the depression * examines the causes of the great depression, from the international gold standard to agricultural over-production in the US * describes the effects on different countries from the Americas to India, Africa and East Asia * pays particular attention to the impact on the peasantry in developing countries * considers the political consequences, such as fascism in Europe * assesses the aftermath and the re-alignment of America, Europe and their colonies * explains key areas, such as Keynesian theory, in accessible terms.