Theory and Politics of Foreign Aid
Preliminary requirements:
Background knowledge in international relations and international economics would be an asset
Course Description:
1. Introduction and film screening, course organisation, allocation of presentation topics
2. Development aid: definitions, actors, distribution, forms and types of aid
3. Origins and history of development aid
4. Motives and objectives of aid giving
5. New and non-official donors: developing countries and NGOs
6. Development aid effectiveness
7. Grades, summing up
Aims of the course:
Student lists foreign aid donors and names forms and types of aid.
Student explains mechanisms of aid system and motives of aid-giving.
Student defines flaws and shortcomings of the current aid system and lists ways to improve aid effectiveness.
Student knows aid practices in developing countries and emerging donors
Student identifies political and economic motives of aid-giving.
Student assesses aid effectiveness in different historical periods and is able to conclude what type of mistakes were made.
Student analyses specific features of national aid systems of emerging and new donors.
Student presents practical recommendations with regards to aid effectiveness.
Student is able to critically assess development aid effectiveness and its impact on socio-economic processes.
Student verifies his/her own opinions with regards to rationales of aid giving and a role of development aid in development finance.
Student is able to analyze development needs of specific countries considering local features and discuss possibilities of financing those needs.
Student possesses competences to work in governmental and nongovernmental institutions.
Teaching methods:
seminar
Evaluation & Completion:
Preparation of essay and 15-20 minutes multimedia presentation covering a topic related to successive sessions + participation in discussion during classes.
Basic Literature:
Riddell, R., Does Foreign Aid Really Work?, Oxford University Press, Oxford 2007.
Easterly, W., The White Man's Burden: Why the West's Efforts to Aid the Rest Have Done So Much Ill and So Little Good, Penguin Press, New York 2006.
Sachs, J., The End of Poverty: Economic Possibilities for Our Time, Penguin Press, New York 2005.
Introductory Reading:
Sachs, J., The End of Poverty: Economic Possibilities for Our Time, Penguin Press, New York 2005.
Easterly, W., The White Man's Burden: Why the West's Efforts to Aid the Rest Have Done So Much Ill and So Little Good, Penguin Press, New York 2006.
Additional Literature:
Brautigam, D., The Dragon’s Gift, The real story of China in Africa, Oxford, New York 2009.
Browne. S., Aid and influence : do donors help or hinder?, Earthscan, London 2007.
Calderisi, R., The trouble with Africa : why foreign aid isn't working, Yale University Press, New Haven, London 2007.
Collier, P., The bottom billion : why the poorest countries are failing and what can be done about it, Oxford University Press, Oxford, New York 2007.
Degnbol-Martinussen, J., Engberg-Pedersen, P., Aid: Understanding International Development Cooperation, Zed Books 2003.
Easterly W., The Elusive Quest for Growth. Economists’ Adventures and Misadventures in the Tropics, MIT Press, London 2001.
Finn T., Hjertholm P., Foreign aid and development: Lessons learnt and directions for the future, Routledge, London 2001.
Hoy, P., Players and Issues in International Aid, Kumarian Press, 1998.
Lancaster, C., Aid to Africa: So Much to Do, So Little Done, University of Chicago Press, 1999.
Moyo, D., Dead aid, Penguin Books, London 2010.
Polman, L., The Crisis Caravan: What's Wrong with Humanitarian Aid?, Metropolitan Books 2010.
