This volume is a timely effort to draw attention to the latent potential of area studies in addition to highlighting recent methodological and conceptual innovations of significance within the broader field of study. The collection is imbued with a desire to utilize the strengths of area studies in order to address the trivialisation of social, cultural and economic complexity with respect to rapidly changing regional, national and global context. This collections provides an effective introduction to the changing character and ambition of area studies.