Secondary cities have become the subject of renewed interest by scholars and international development organizations. his report, for Cities Alliance, investigates the role played by secondary cities in the development of global regions and nations. it includes a literature review and redefinition of the term “secondary city” in the context of the role such cities play in global and national urban systems. Secondary cities are no longer defined by population size. today, functionality and connectivity with global and national systems of cities have a significant influence on the way secondary cities are designed. The book discusses trends, influences, and challenges, including the forces of New Economic Geography (NEG) facing the development of secondary cities in developing regions using a systems analysis perspective under the headings of urban governance, economic, development, social, and environmental systems. fifteen regional case studies are presented to illustrate the way countries in developing regions have approached urbanization, decentralization, and other developments in support of secondary development. The role of international development assistance agencies and organizations in supporting the development of systems of secondary cities is discussed.