Social inclusion is thus spatially uneven. The paper also shows how context matters, identifying some of the mechanisms by which nation-states and localities influence processes of economic, social, and political exclusion and inclusion. She is grateful to the Social Perspective on Development Branch of DESA/DSPD for its support in developing the paper, and also extends sincere thanks to an anonymous peer reviewer for comments and suggestions. The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the United Nations Secretariat.