Billions of dollars have been given to developing countries over the past fifty years, yet critics argue that aid is ineffectual or, worse yet, harmful to recipients. In this course, we will examine the politics surrounding the delivery of international aid, exploring who decides the aid agenda, which countries receive what aid and how aid interacts with the political dynamics of recipient communities once it is delivered. The course begins with a brief history of ‘development’ as a concept, tracing the international aid regime’s evolution over the last century, before turning to current debates over international assistance, highlighting throughout how politics pervades even the most technical of aid interventions. The course relies heavily on the case-study method, which asks students to collectively agree on a course of action for a real-world case study. The case method highlights to students the strategic and ethical complexities of aid work, encouraging students to develop their ability to articulate clear, persuasive arguments and to engage in complex negotiations with their classmates.