Comparative international adult education, defined as that field in which adult educators from various countries compare their own institutions and practices with those of their counterparts in other nations, is examined. Provided is an account of adult education in nine European socialist countries (including the Soviet Union), as well as definitions of new policies and practices from developing Third World nations that hold promise for improving programs in more industrialized and urbanized countries. Chapters include: Learning from Each Other (Alexander N. Charters); Australia in Asia--Comparison as Learning (Chris Duke); Adult Education Systems in European Socialist Countries: Similarities and Differences (Dusan M. Savicevic); Professionalization in Adult Education in the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic (Joachim H. Knoll); Adult Education Organizations in a Comparative Context (E. M. Hutchinson); The Function of Adult Education Legislation (Colin J. Titmus and Alan R. Pardoen); Educational Technology in Comparative Adult Education (Donald P. Ely); Reaching Unreached Adults (Kwasi Ampene); Design and Development of Literacy Programs (John W. Ryan); and Research (J. R. Kidd). A postscript by Charters indicates both the similarities and differences identified, government intervention, leadership needs, and social contributions. Notes about the authors, references, a name index, and a subject index are also provided. (LC)