This volume, a result of a policy forum of educational psychologists, sociologists, policy makers and field workers, aims to highlight the role of literacy in social development and the directions that governments and other agencies should take in designing their literacy programmes. The volume is divided into two major sections. The first examines literacy as a social practice in "literate societies". As this section makes clear, literacy development reflects both the intrinsic structure of the society and reshapes those activities and institutions in the direction of producing cultures organized around texts. The second part examines, through carefully chosen case studies, ongoing literacy projects, programmes and other initiatives in developing societies in Asia, Africa and Central and South America.