The Politics of Aid Revisited: A Review of Evidence on State Capacity and Elite Commitment

Abstract

Abstract Based on a systematic review of the impacts of aid on both state capacity for, and elite commitment to sustainable development, this chapter concludes that a better understanding of the impact of aid has the potential to directly inform practices of international development. This requires better empirical insight into how donors interact with formal and informal institutions in the countries where they work, particularly in aid-dependent countries. Furthermore, it is critical to see aid as part of a spectrum of international exchange, rather than in isolation. This implies a significant research agenda, combining quantitative and in-depth qualitative analysis, as there are barriers for more informed political analysis to inform practice; and little analysis exists of how donors, even where they do start adopting a political perspective, do influence local institutions and the people they work with.

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