This text is intended for international development courses in various departments, including social work, sociology, economics, political science, anthropology, and related fields that require a substantive introduction to international development. The text balances the theoretical with the practical, by providing the reader with the historical and theoretical background of contemporary development, including ample case references to specific projects and issues. International development is seen as one of the most pressing human welfare issues today. The text includes histories of developing regions including Asia, Latin America, and Africa, and depicts how regional circumstances have accelerated or impeded development. The text summarizes successful development projects, including Grameen Bank, Habitat for Humanity, and First Nations Development Institute, as well as some development failures.