Aid by Democratic Versus Autocratic Donors: Democratization Processes and Citizens’ Perceptions in Recipient Countries
Abstract
OECD countries are no longer the sole major providers of financial flows
abroad. Authoritarian countries such as China, Russia, Iran, and Saudi
Arabia, with their distinct practices and implementation processes, are increasingly
present in low- and middle-income countries. In this Ph.D. dissertation,
I develop and test hypotheses on the influence of foreign aid
on democratization processes and citizens’ attitudes in recipient countries.
Employing a multi-method approach, using observational and experimental
methods, I analyze the role of democratic donors such as the European Union
(EU) and autocratic donors like China, both together and separately. I find
that democratic donors like the EU, who target democratic institutions via
democracy assistance can foster democratization. I argue that democracy
assistance is effective when aid is coupled with political conditionality and
monitoring mechanisms. On the other hand, aid from autocratic donors like
China can decrease support for democracy, especially among those who view
autocratic donors very positively. Autocratic aid impacts these perceptions
through (1) attribution processes, i.e., individuals learn about aid projects
that are implemented close to where they live (2) the instrumentalization
of aid by political elites, i.e., political elites influence citizens by spreading
information about the benevolence and generosity of authoritarian donors.
Finally, this Ph.D. dissertation demonstrates that foreign donors’ attributes
convey to citizens how likely corruption is in the project and how responsive
their local government and donors will be in implementing such projects.
The political regime of the donor, whether democratic or autocratic, signals
the level of responsiveness to citizens’ demands. On the other hand, whether
a donor is transparent or not, indicates the risk of corruption in the project
and in the local government.
Parts of work
Gafuri, Adea (2022). Can democracy aid improve democracy? The European Union’s democracy assistance 2002–2018. Democratization, 29(5), 777-797 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13510347.2021.2012654 Gafuri, Adea (2023). Are Autocratic Donors Impeding Democracy Abroad? The Presence of Autocratic Donors and Citizens’ Perceptions of Democracy. Gafuri, Adea (2023). Do Donor Practices at Home and Abroad Matter for Citizens in Recipient Countries? Experimental Evidence from Serbia.
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy
University
University of Gothenburg. Faculty of Social Sciences
Göteborgs universitet. Samhällsvetenskapliga fakulteten
Institution
Department of Political Science ; Statsvetenskapliga institutionen
Disputation
Fredagen den 22 september 2023, kl. 13.15, Torgny Segerstedtsalen, Göteborgs Universitet, Vasaplatsen
Date of defence
2023-09-22
adea.gafuri@gu.se
Date
2023-08-21Author
Gafuri, Adea
Keywords
foreign aid
democratization
democracy aid
autocratic donors
European Union
China
Publication type
Doctoral thesis
ISBN
978-91-8069-347-9
Language
eng