By arguing that, on the whole, donors have had greater political interests than recipients, the course takes a fresh and original look at aid as instrument of power politics. This is done through an integrated analysis, at once conceptual, historical, and political, of the growing impact of State Funded Aid on international relations, particularly after the collapse of the Berlin Wall and the end of the bipolar system. In order to observe aid as an emerging instrument of foreign policy, donors and recipients are put on the same level, and the political dynamics of their relationship is put at the center of the focus.  In the second part of the course, this framework of analysis is applied to several historical cases.  

shifting from looking at the needs covered by aid interventions to the political motivations of donors and recipients. Aid is reconceptualized to include any transaction on favorable terms between these two parties, regardless of the object of that aid. In the end, the co identifies ten major trends that have shaped the dynamics of the relationship between donors and recipients over the last few decades, and on a more general level, traces the impact that State Funded Aid has had on the international system.

Part One: Aid in foreign policy and the international system.

1.) Methodology: how to (re)frame the history and politics of interstate aid

2.) The conceptual dimension of aid: from foreign aid to public policies of international aid 

3.) The historical dimension of aid: the main phases of interstate aid since the end of World War II

4.) The political dimension of aid: Major trends in political relations between Donors and Recipients  

Part two: case studies

1.) Post-war Bosnia and Herzegovina (1995-2000) 

2.) Post-Soviet Russia in the 1990s

3.) Pandemic relief and vaccine diplomacy (2020-2022)

4.) Interventionist Aid in the war in Ukraine (2022-2023)

 

A basic knowledge of the History of International Relations (particularly from the collapse of the Soviet Union and the conflict in the Western Balkans) is recommended.

Knowledge and understanding
The student will be expected to show:
- to possess basic theoretical and practical knowledge of some of the main themes and most debated issues of the relations of Aid between sovereign states and International Organizations in the 20th century;
These skills are acquired by active participation in teaching activities (lectures, tutorials, seminars) and through individual study.

Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
The student should be able to: 
- recognize the main political-institutional implications underlying the public policies of International Aid;
- know how to develop and support basic arguments on major International Aid policies and initiatives since the end of World War II. 
These skills are acquired either by active participation in lectures, participation in guided group discussions, or through individual study.

 

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

During the course, a series of seminars/conferences (including with outside guests) will be organized aimed at deepening the understanding of some of the main topics covered.

Teaching

Lectures and specific seminars also with project\programme design simulations. 

Innovative teaching methods

The course includes innovative teaching methods with interactive simulations and design thinking.

Attendance

A minimum of 75% attendance is required for attending students.

Course books

I.Pellicciari, "Re-Framing Foreign Aid History and Politics", Routledge, 2022

A. Furia, "The Foreign Aid Regime", Palgrave McMillan, 2015

Other materials distributed in the course of the lectures.

Assessment

Oral exam on course topics and reading list. Discussion of a short paper (min 7-max 10 pages) prepared by each student on a topic agreed upon with the lecturer.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Teaching

Non-attending students are encouraged to read the volumes listed below and any additional material agreed upon with the lecturer.

Attendance

Non-attending students are invited to contact the lecturer to arrange a specific reading list

Course books

I.Pellicciari, "Re-Framing Foreign Aid History and Politics", Routledge, 2022

A. Furia, "The Foreign Aid Regime", Palgrave McMillan, 2015

S. Lahiri, "Theory and Practice of Foreign Aid", Elsevier, Amsterdam

M. Van Der Veen, "Ideas, Interest and Foreign Aid", Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

Assessment

Oral exam on course topics and reading list. Discussion of a short paper (min 7-max 10 pages) prepared by each student on a topic agreed upon with the lecturer.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.