"John Isbister brings the dilemmas of international poverty and the Third World into the twenty-first century in the fifth edition of this broadly-read text. Besides including the most current information and a discussion of political change around the world, Promises Not Kept now highlights the divergent paths chosen by different developing regions - some embracing modern technology and institutions, while others seek different paths.".

"Through a blend of political and economic theory and historical narrative, Isbister asks the reader to consider the forces and structures that have led to unequal conditions and poverty in developing countries, and to face the ongoing problem of a widening gap between the rich and the poor."--BOOK JACKET.