This is the first book to explore from an interdisciplinary and global perspective the reforms of social protection systems introduced in recent years by many governments of low- and middle-income countries. Through case studies of African, Asian, and Latin American countries, the book covers how this 'global phenomenon' differs across countries both in terms of scope and speed of institutional change. It addresses on the one hand the major elements impacting on the political feasibility of social protection reforms in order to analyse reform successes and reform failures, and on the other hand the successful strategies in building political and public support for these reforms.