The course focuses on the study of International Development Assistance (IDA) and its impact on the economic development of countries. It aims to foster an understanding of the political and economic dimensions of economic aid at both national and international levels. The course begins by examining the concept of the Global South through the lens of International Political Economy. Subsequently, it explores the historical evolution of IDA, as well as the various forms and mechanisms of state aid. The course analyzes the motivations of donor states, aid mechanisms, and their institutional characteristics, evaluating their effectiveness. It examines the darker aspects of aid, such as the perpetuation of the Global South's economic dependence on the North, the support of corruption networks, and the facilitation of criminal activities. The course also addresses the roles of international organizations and non-state actors in international development cooperation. Various development aid mechanisms are examined through a comparative lens. The course concludes with a study of Greek development assistance policy and the challenges it is faced with.