First in-depth study of Manuell Castells pioneering work Traces Castells thought from his work on urban change in the 1970s to his recent theories of global social transformations Distills the central ideas in Castells work into an accessible and concise introduction for undergraduate students Explores Castells writings on the network society, informational capitalism and democracy in crisis Provides a critical analysis of Castells thought in relation to ongoing debates about globalization