Distributing dollars for democracy: changing foreign policy contexts and the shifting determinants of US democracy aid, 1975–2010

Democratizing dictators? Non-democratic regime conditions and the allocation of US democracy assistance, 1975–2010

“…However, aid allocations are driven by complex calculations involving donor interests and relationships, recipient needs, humanitarian and ideational purposes, feasibility concerns, bargaining with recipients, and others (e.g. Alesina and Dollar, 2000; Apodaca and Stohl 1999; Balla and Reinhardt, 2008; Boutton and Carter, 2014; Drury et al, 2005; Heinrich, 2013; McKinlay and Little, 1977; Peterson and Scott, 2018; Scott and Carter, forthcoming). In this context, as the Cold War and its emphasis on countering Soviet actions ended, the USA and other donors adapted foreign aid strategies to emphasize democracy promotion as a foreign policy goal, developing specific foreign aid strategies to support and assist democratization as a part of a range of approaches in pursuit of this objective.…”

“…According to AidData (Tierney et al, 2011), democracy aid from donor states in North America and Europe increased to 10–15% of foreign aid by the 2000s. For the USA, democracy assistance grew from less than 2% of aid to about 14% from 1975 to 2010 (Scott and Carter, forthcoming). USAID administered most US democracy aid through targeted packages to civil society organizations (about one-third of aid) and political parties and political institutions (about two-thirds of aid), intended to empower individuals, groups, and institutions in the recipient state.…”

“…Explanations have built on foreign aid literature to emphasize the role of donor interests, situational factors, recipient need and other characteristics, and ideational factors such as human rights in allocation decisions (e.g. Dietrich, 2016; Heinrich, 2013; Heinrich et al, 2018; Nielsen, 2013; Nielsen and Nielson, 2010; Peterson and Scott, 2018; Scott and Carter, forthcoming). Some studies have concluded that democratic conditions and trajectories play a role as well.…”

“…Indeed, a key idea casts democracy aid allocations as strategic bets placed by aid allocators on recipients more likely to show progress toward and consolidation of democracy (e.g. Nielsen and Nielson, 2010; Peterson and Scott, 2018; Reinsberg, 2015; Scott and Carter, forthcoming).…”

“…Some studies find that potential recipients exhibiting movement toward democracy tend to receive more democracy aid (e.g. Peterson and Scott, 2018; Reinsberg, 2015; Scott and Carter, forthcoming). For example, Dietrich and Wright (2015) find that initial movements toward multiparty regimes result in democracy aid increases to government and civil society groups.…”