International Aid Programs and Politics

This course is available for on-campus & remote (online) learning. All students participate in interactive, real-time classes. Aid policies and programs have shaped international relations and domestic policies for the past seventy years. By providing overseas development assistance, countries have sought to shape geopolitics and influence the domestic policies of recipient countries. In the 21st century, aid has been more closely examined than ever and countries and multilateral institutions are trying different strategies for delivering aid. The question remains, however, as to whether overseas aid is a worthwhile enterprise or whether it is merely an exercise in political power. This course will examine the debates both for and against aid. It will explore all perspectives and students will be encouraged to formulate their own stance on the different merits and issues of aid policies and programs. A number of case studies will be used to analyse the experiences of both donor and recipient countries. This course will compare Australia’s aid program with comparative programs in Europe and North America. It will also investigate the effects of aid in Asia, the Pacific, Africa and Latin America and will examine what decoloniality means for aid. It will also have a practical focus, exploring policy proposals for aid and reflecting on diverse aid mechanisms and alternatives to aid.