Across the world, many countries are cutting social security spending and rolling back commitments to universal coverage by restricting benefits, narrowly targeting policies and means-testing claimants. But some are bucking this trend. Despite decades of pressure for social policies to be used only as residual, marginal, palliative measures to protect those in dire need, many emerging economies are successfully extending social security coverage towards universal levels. What drives these universalizing forces? Are these moves towards universal coverage sustainable? Why have some countries had more success than others in implementing socially inclusive, economically viable social security programmes?