With nearly half the world's population now urbanized, cities are increasingly unable to cope. This global review examines the different history and current patterns of slum and squatter settlements in the economically most successful, middle-range and poorest of Third World countries. It also reviews the state of existing policy-oriented research, the strategies necessary in order to improve housing conditions for the very poor, and the possible future of these settlements. The authors include architects, planners, engineers, and social scientists. Their emphasis throughout is on the key role of local participants and the necessity of abandoning top-down approaches. The study covers Hong Kong, Korea, Costa Rica, Caribbean, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Thailand, China, Egypt, Zambia, Tanzania, Ghana, Pakistan and India.