The politics of aid

Question 1

What is foreign aid?

Answer 1

• DAC aid is Official Development Assistance (ODA)
• Can also go to NGOs, who also receive funds from philanthrocapitalism
• ODA is from government expendatures (e.g. DIFD)

Question 2

What is a problem with the DAC?

Answer 2

Knowledge politics

• Only member countries (wealthy western countries, mostly) have a say in policies
• China, other outsiders or recipients of aid no say

Question 3

Why do countries give aid?

Answer 3

• National image and ethics
• Building geopolitical status (links to above)
• To help improve the world (pandemic support etc; benevolence)
• For things that are in the interest of the North (security)
• Economic benefits for donors

Question 4

Is aid always mutually benefitial?

Answer 4

Debateable - a point of contention

Question 5

Does the USA pull its weight in the DAC?

Answer 5

The absolute $ spent on aid is highest of DAC members, but % GDP expenditure is lowest

Question 6

What are the main reasons why donors give/don’t give aid?

Answer 6

Political ideology (and economic side too…)

• Marxist critique based on exploitation and underdevelopment
• Mutual benefits (welfarist, social democratic approach)
• To be benefitial to donor (Cameron Gov)
• Conservative critiques based on neoliberal competativeness

Question 7

Under what slogan did the Tories increase aid to unprecedented levels in 2014?

Answer 7

“One world conservatism”, builds on one nation conservatism

Question 8

What is a less commonly examined reason why donor countries do/don’t give aid?

Answer 8

Public opinion because of the condition of the domestic economy - part of national concerns

(Power 2004)

Question 9

What are two good sources on domestic political views affecting intl outlook?

Answer 9

Mawdsley 2017

Noxolo 2012

Question 10

How can aid work in the “national interest” of donor countries?

Answer 10

• Economically
• Geosecurity

(HM Treasury 2015)

Question 11

Is there always a correlation between aid expenditure and political ideology?

Answer 11

Although Heppell and Lightfoot (2012) identified a correlation, it is not always true - there are dissidents at the extremes of the political spectrum

Question 12

What are the two fundamental determinants of aid politics?

Answer 12

1) Political ideology

2) Economic circumstances domestically (e.g. austerity) (highlighted by Thérien and Noe 2000)

Question 13

Where have colonial narratives been reproduced in the aid discourse? What does it highlight?

Answer 13

• DIFD proportional adverts
• Favours radical left wing arguments

Biccum 2005

Question 14

What proportion of US aid does not actually go to helping people?

Answer 14

• Some sources say 90% (Accurate?)
• Could lead to apprehension about aid and “wasting money” argument, which is true when it is evidenced

Lancaster 2008

Question 15

What factors does political ideology encompass regarding ODA?

Answer 15

• Economic orthodoxy (Social Democracy vs Neoliberalism)

- Geopolitical aspects (security and domestic benefits)