ABSTRACT
International assistance to underdeveloped countries expanded considerably in the twentieth century, with key growth points occurring during World War I, World War II and the aftermath of the Cold War. This chapter examines the historical context and focuses on the current transitional period. It looks at multilateral engagement, mostly through the United Nations (UN) but also through the European Union (EU) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The limited development of international assistance in the mid-2000s was thrown into sharp relief by the devastating damage wrought by Cyclone Nargis in Lower Myanmar in May 2008. The chapter also examines domestic developments and provides an overview of international engagement in the transitional period. It presents brief sectoral studies of poverty, healthcare, education, labour and human rights. The chapter presents some special cases of global involvement in the peace process and Rakhine State.
