Alternative strategies of economic development pose the most difficult political choices for those countries of Africa, Asia, and Latin America not yet blessed by economic prosperity. This course seeks to accomplish three related goals. First, it will explore the contending theories of development that have shaped the debate about development in the past half-century: modernization theory, dependency theory, theories that emphasize state-led development, and theories that seek to define sustainable development. Second, it will compare alternative strategies of development, especially as exemplified by successful (or thought-to-be successful) developing and developed countries. Third, it will consider a set of contemporary issues that complicate the efforts of countries to develop: globalization, environmental catastrophe, population growth, and human rights considerations. Throughout, the definition of development and the desirability of economic growth will be questioned. Major cases to be considered include Brazil, Mexico, China, Korea, Taiwan, and India. Prerequisite: sophomore standing. Enrollment limited.