Economic Development Assistance Research Articles

The media in China–Africa public relations: Assessing China's attractiveness beyond economic development assistance

AbstractThis work explores China's African public relations and image‐building effort, focusing on Nigeria. Thus, the paper's purpose is twofold: first, to investigate whether China's conduct of public diplomacy through its soft power resource—development assistance—has effectively shaped positive Nigerian public perception of China, and second, to determine the media's role in advancing China's public diplomacy in Nigeria. Specifically, it explores the interaction of economic development assistance, media, and public relations. I do this by comparing China's foreign direct investment (FDI) in Nigeria (2010–2019) with the public's perception of the FDI's influence on the Nigerian economy (2016 and 2020) and the media's role in shaping public support toward the investments. Utilizing a range of datasets, I find that Chinese economic investment alone is insufficient to substantially shape positive Nigerian public perception of China. Within a framework of mediated public diplomacy, I demonstrate that the Chinese image‐building effort in Nigeria would likely enhance when the country links economic investments with public relations to make the investments more visible through effective media representation.Related ArticlesAyhan, Kadir Jun, and Nancy Snow. 2021. “Introduction to the Special Issue—Global Korea Scholarship: Empirical Evaluation of a Non‐Western Scholarship Program from a Public Diplomacy Perspective.” Politics & Policy 49(6): 1282–91. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12440.Hodzi, Obert, and John H. S. Åberg. 2020. “Introduction to the Special Issue: Strategic Deployment of the China Model in Africa.” Politics & Policy 48(5): 804–14. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12378.Huijgh, Ellen. 2017. “Indonesia's ‘Intermestic’ Public Diplomacy: Features and Future.” Politics & Policy 45(5): 762–92. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12221.

The role of international tourism, trade openness and renewable energy in the financial development of selected African countries

It is well established that financial development is pivotal to the proper functioning of the real economy and there is a vast body of literature investigating into its determinants. In this study, we shift attention to tourism and renewable energy consumption that are rarely discussed in the financial development debate along with trade openness. Even though, tourism and renewable energy consumption may be less conventional to issues of financial intermediation, they could, along with trade openness, nonetheless contribute to some aspects of financial development in ways consistent with the finance-growth hypothesis. Consequently, this study, while controlling for economic growth, development assistance and government expenditure examines the effects of renewable energy consumption, tourism development and trade openness on financial development in selected African countries. The study relies on data from the World Bank (2023) World Development Indicators for seven African countries (Egypt, Tunisia, Kenya, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Ivory Coast and Morocco) over the periods 1995–2021. Fully Modified Ordinary Least Square (FMOLS) regression estimations reveal that, in the long run, trade openness, international tourism, and renewable energy stimulate financial development. The quantile regression which rendered additional support to this evidence further reveals that, the financial sector gains associated with trade openness, international tourism and renewable energy are greater for countries with lower financial sector development. Thus, a country can still optimize the gains associated with increased trade openness, international tourism, and renewable energy consumption with a relatively less developed financial market. Hence, polices that improve tourism development, promote renewable energy consumption and intensify economic openness may be important catalysts for stimulating further financial development in Africa.

China’s image-building in Africa: The intersection of the media and economic development investment in Mali

Since the 2000s, China has deepened public relations in its engagement with Africa primarily through economic investment and assistance. The present work looks at China’s African public relations and the mechanism that shapes public perception of China, focusing on Mali. Mali is not a major destination for Chinese investment, yet public perceptions of China appear to be uniquely positive. How may we explain this trajectory? The work undertakes a longitudinal examination, comparing China’s economic developments in Mali (2010–20) with Malians’ perception of China’s influence on the Malian economy that shapes the general perception and attitude towards China (2010–20) and the media’s role in this process. Some questions guide this study: how do Chinese economic activities in Mali shape Malians’ perception of China? How does the media contribute (if any) to shaping Malian perception of China’s developmental programmes? Employing a mixed research method and a range of datasets, I find that economic investment does not necessarily shape positive public perception of China in Mali. Instead, how the public receives information about economic investments shapes and enhances a positive perception of China in Mali. Consequently, China would substantially enhance its image-building effort when its foreign economic development assistance is linked with public relations, making economic programmes more visible through media representations. I based the theoretical discussion on the media agenda-setting framework.

Tackling antimicrobial resistance: developing and implementing antimicrobial stewardship interventions in four African commonwealth countries through a health partnership model.

In recent years, health partnerships have shared infection prevention and control innovations between United Kingdom hospitals and Low-Middle-Income Countries. However, none had focused on antimicrobial stewardship (AMS), a core component of tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This paper documents an effective approach to developing a program to increase AMS capacity in four African countries: Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia as part of the Commonwealth Partnerships for Antimicrobial Stewardship (CwPAMS) program. A systematic approach was applied to assess gaps in AMS interventions and inform the development of the CwPAMS program through deskbased assessments, including National Action Plans on AMR, online focus group meetings, and expert advisory group reviews. Twelve partnerships were selected for the CwPAMS program. AMS support tools were developed based on recommendations from the scoping, including an AMS checklist tool, a healthcare worker knowledge and attitudes questionnaire, and an antimicrobial prescribing app to support clinical decision-making. Training workshops on AMS were developed and delivered to volunteers in Africa and the UK using a train-the-trainer model. The tools and workshops facilitated capacity building for AMS through the generation and strengthening of knowledge, skills, commitment, structures, systems, and leadership among stakeholders in the UK and Africa. The overall average rating assigned to the program following independent evaluation using the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development Assistance Committee Evaluation Criteria was very good. The evaluation also highlighted that the majority of the HPs (75%) focused on AMS and/or improved prescribing practice; all HPs have developed and implemented AMS strategies, guidelines, and tools within their hospitals; and NHS staff were able to translate the knowledge and skills they had received early on in the program into clinical practice in response to COVID-19 challenges.

Chinese and Indian economic relations and development assistance to Zimbabwe: Rationale, controversies and significance

AbstractRecent economic relations including foreign assistance scenario in Africa show expansion of China and India as emerging bilateral partners, competing with traditional countries in Europe and North America. The results of this paper found that the relationship of China and India with Zimbabwe has resulted in several challenges including increasing resource‐backed debt burden, exploitation of the natural resources, and flouting of constitutional, environmental, and labor provisions. The paper recommends that the Zimbabwean government must demand loans and investments that are contracted under clear terms and conditions, with parliamentary oversight and public scrutiny to avoid abuse by the elites.

GLOBALIZATION AND NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR GEORGIA

. To define the conceptual vision of the unified development of Georgia, it is necessary to understand it as a systemic process against the background of continuous historical and civilizational progress, which emphasizes the main features of the dynamic picture from time immemorial to the present. These visions have largely led to the development of the Georgian. National Security Concept. The geo-economic strategy of the country is an important part of it. Geoeconomics as a separate science emerged in the late twentieth century and studies the interaction between the man and the space. The formation of geoeconomic science is linked to the emergence of global economic problems. A characteristic feature of modernity has been the shift of the center of gravity of the struggle against the government to the economic sphere. Problems that have been solved by force of arms for centuries are finally being solved on the basis of finances and information. Economic wars have largely replaced conventional warfare. According to the American Scientists, Robert Blackville and Jennifer M. Harris's three-component definition, geoeconomics is the use of economic tools: to pursue and protect national interests; to achieve positive geopolitical results. Currently, in theory, geopolitical applications have seven economic instruments: trade policy, investment policy, economic and financial sanctions, cyber attacks, economic development assistance, financial and monetary policy, energy and commodity policy. They may be very different from each other, but it still makes sense to discuss them together. Geoeconomics is an interdisciplinary subject. It allows you to study and connect the best of different subjects around one topic. Therefore, the role of geoeconomics in the preparation of undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students of economic profile is important. It allows to strengthen the interdisciplinary academic approach which will facilitate the optimal use of geo-economic instruments and the country's geo-economic potential for the interests of Georgia. The National Security Concept of Georgia, in order to realize and dispute the national interests of Georgia, analyzes the threats, risks and challenges facing Georgia and defines the main directions of Georgia's security policy. The use of geo-economic instruments plays an important role in the implementation of this policy.

Empirical Analysis of the Macroeconomic impact of Foreign Aid on Pakistan Economy (1972-2014)

Purpose: Although Pakistan receives large quantity of foreign aid, like other developing countries, but it remains more dependent on foreign assistance for economic development since independence. This situation has commenced a vigorous discussion on aid-growth effectiveness.
 Methodology: This research work evaluates the macroeconomic impact of foreign aid on Pakistan economy by using secondary data. The empirical analysis is based on ARDL cointegration approach after testing for unit root, using the data for the period 1972-2014.
 Findings: The findings suggest there is no long run relationship between Foreign aid and Economic Growth. However, there exists negative short run relation between Foreign aid and Economic Growth of Pakistan.
 Implications: Based on the study findings, the study recommends that government of Pakistan should find alternate sources of financing as the relation between foreign aid and economic growth is found negative and insignificant. The in depth analysis of the study made it evident that allocation of aid to those sectors of the economy which really needs development, is more productive, provided that the country should use aid funds in the right direction, as corruption less economy prosper more rapidly.

THE LATE 20TH TO EARLY 21ST CENTURY OF FOREIGN POLICY OF BANGLADESH IN ECONOMIC DIMENSION TOWARDS CHINA

Bangladesh and China have established robust bilateral cooperation based on mutual confidence and interests since the establishment of diplomatic ties. The Bangladesh-China relationship's most motivating attribute is its relative consistency and longevity. After the establishment of a formal diplomatic relationship in October 1975, Bangladesh and China have continued to be close friends and development partners. In a variety of fields, including politics, the economy, the military, and culture, good bilateral cooperation between Bangladesh and China has been achieved. Many bilateral treaties, agreements, and memoranda of understanding on reciprocal economic cooperation, cultural sharing, infrastructure development, educational interaction, and military assistance have been signed over the years. Mutual reciprocity on the grounds of common values has largely led to keeping bilateral ties between Bangladesh and China sustainable over time. The goal of the present study is to provide a detailed approach to the bilateral ties between Bangladesh and China in the late 20th - early 21st century.

СУЧАСНИЙ СТАН ТА ПЕРСПЕКТИВИ РОЗВИТКУ ТОРГОВЕЛЬНОГО СПІВРОБІТНИЦТВА США ТА УКРАЇНИ

The article is devoted to the study of the current state and prospects of cooperation between Ukraine and the United States in the field of trade relations. Studying the current state of cooperation with the United States in the political, economic, and social spheres and identifying priority areas for further cooperation is an important task for Ukraine as a country seeking to achieve Euro-Atlantic integration. Sustainable trade and economic ties with the United States are a strategic direction of Ukraine’s foreign policy, as such cooperation will allow our country to improve its position in the world economic system, ensure sustainable economic development, increase national competitiveness and achieve high economic, political and social standards. The experience and political and economic influence of the US in the world can help Ukraine in achieving the abovementioned goals. The article suggests a scientific approach to determining the current state of bilateral trade relations between the United States and Ukraine. The position of the United States of America and Ukraine in the international arena and the impact of the US economy on the economy of Ukraine are assessed in the article. The general state of Ukraine's foreign trade and its geographical structure are determined, in particular, special attention is paid to the characteristic of the role of the United States as a partner of Ukraine in the export and import of goods and services. The dynamics of trade in goods between Ukraine and the United States, its industry structure and volume are analyzed. Particular attention is paid to bilateral trade in services as a significant and dynamically developing part of the foreign trade relations of the two countries. To determine the prospects for the development of trade cooperation between Ukraine and the United States, the latest publications of the political departments of the states concerning the issues of bilateral trade and mutual assistance in economic development have been studied. An analysis of Ukraine's activities at present stage, which contributes to the deepening of trade and economic cooperation with the United States is conducted. Possible directions of development of trade cooperation between Ukraine and the USA are described.

Canada’s economic assistance to the OPT: ideology, politics, and flawed responses

ABSTRACT While Canada has been providing development assistance to the Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) since 1993, its economic development assistance program took shape in 2007 after the formation of the Palestinian technocratic government. Even though the Canadian government had access to substantial analysis regarding the most significant impediments to the economic development of the OPT, its chosen areas of focus were informed more by its ideology, politics towards the region, and a belief in maintaining a viable economy until such time that efforts to work out the political issues related to illegal settlements, access and movement, borders, and the final formation of a Palestinian state bear fruit. As demonstrated, Canada’s actions, along with that of other donors, have allowed for Israel to continue undertaking actions that have a significant economic cost for Palestinians and that make adequate economic development impossible and a long-term viable Palestinian economy less likely.

Integration of Accounting and Statistics in Financial Management of Financial Bureau

The Financial Bureau is a functional department responsible for the expenditure management of local units. It not only undertakes the responsibility of formulating and revising the financial management system, but also supervises the strict implementation of the financial system by local units. The efficient operation of the Financial Bureau can ensure the smooth progress of local work and provide assistance for local economic development. Currently, with the rapid economic development, all government departments are carrying out system reform and innovation of working methods to improve the work efficiency and make up for the deficiencies in the work. Accounting and statistics are the key links throughout the financial management work of the Financial Bureau. With the continuous innovation of the management system of the Financial Bureau, accounting and statistics will be more closely integrated.

Russian Economic Development Assistance in 2019

In 2019, the Government of the Russian Federation raised allocations for official development assistance (ODA). Its volume exceeded Rb1 trillion. However, real volume of Russian economic assistance is larger than OECD statistical data show, they do not take into account intergovernmental fiscal transfers and assistance to self-styled states. The largest proportion (61.2%) of Russian assistance was provided on a bilateral basis. Moreover, Armenia, Kirgizia, and Tajikistan apart from bilateral projects receive Russian assistance through mechanisms of international organizations. Finally, the volume of writing-off by Russia of debt commitments totaled nearly $425 mn last year.

Does repression work?: Measuring repression’s effect on protest using an instrumental variable model

ABSTRACT Protest and repression are reciprocally related. Governments respond with repression when faced with challenges to their rule. Dissidents choose their strategies, turning out to protest or staying home, based on the state’s behaviour. But what effect does repression have on protestors’ decisions? The existing literature is of two minds on this issue. One school of thought argues that repression suppresses protest. A second school of thought argues that repression increases protest by inducing public backlash against the regime. Efforts to adjudicate these claims are complicated by the endogeneity between protest and repression. We use US economic development assistance as an instrument for government repression. Governments seeking US development assistance eschew the repression of protestors. An instrumental variable analysis of the MAROB Middle East dataset shows that repression (instrumented on US development aid commitments) discourages protest by a dissident group. The likelihood of protest decreases by roughly 20% in a given year if the group is repressed. The need for an instrumental variable model is highlighted by the fact that uninstrumented regressions show the opposite effect, giving the spurious appearance of backlash. Unfortunately for protestors, the appearance is deceiving. Repression works.

KESIAPAN PENGEMBANGAN EKONOMI DI PESANTREN AL ANWAR 3 SARANG, JAWA TENGAH

The increasing level of middle class welfare in Indonesia is not only a gift for the country, but also for Muslims as the majority. Unfortunately, these economic improvements have not yet fully reached the pesantren environment widely, especially in Central Java Province. Seeing this condition, the provincial government cooperated with Bank Indonesia to provide pesantren economic development assistance programs. One of the participants is Al Anwar 3 Islamic Boarding School located in Sarang District, Rembang Regency. The launch of the pilot project is certainly the beginning of the empowerment of the santri group, which has not been explored to date. Applying a qualitative descriptive method, this research analyzes how the readiness of the pondok in developing the initial program, which later is expected to run continuously. Looking at the research results obtained, the Al Anwar 3 pesantren is quite ready to run the program, only in the future some strategic aspects, such as land preparation and increased synergy between internal parties of the cottage need to be improved so that the long-term policy objectives can be achieved.

Democracy and Totalitarianism in Contemporary Understanding

The examination of political reactions content in historical terms has shown that their substance does not remain unchanged. Originally democracy means perverted and unnatural political order, the power of poor, that occurs only for a very short time during the political crises. Democracy began to name government by the people or majority only from the first bourgeois revolutions.The author believes that the idea of government by the people is deeply populist and it is against the laws of nature and society. The generally accepted classification of political reactions does not take into account the useful properties of hierarchy for the society and completely identify the socially useful and legally enshrined in corporate affairs principle of one-man management with totalitarian regime.Currently not a single “color revolution” is not without a number of slogans and populist perceptions about human being and society presented in the end of the XVIII century. The spread of “democracy” does not involve the assistance in economic development and in the establishment of the high social standards typical for west countries, but on the contrary preserve poverty and backwardness of world periphery.The author comes to a conclusion that it is necessary to develop the more modern and adequate perceptions about politic reactions taking into account the explanations of natural sciences. In the authors view the democracy constitute “soft” hierarchy that admit the majority of the people to the acceptable social status in conditions of missing the firm competitive relations in the society. Solidarity among people, consensus of the interests, moral and political unity as a result of approximately equal social status, social stability and mobility, the lack of deep social division are the main characteristics of the democracy. Totalitarianism can be defined as a violence from the side of society or collective towards person who does not want follow antihuman consumer values.

Does International Financial Institution Expand the Growth of Developing Countries?

International financial institutions are established under international law for providing grant or loans and technical assistance for social and economic development of the country and region. Those institutions can be universal, regional and local. IMF and WB are the universal financial institutions whereas ADB, CDB, CAF, AIIB etc are the regional financial institutions. Similarly, local institution may also be established. The Bretton Woods Conference established IMF, WB, and GATT. Its initiation to establish ITO was failed. Washington Consensus, as proposed by Williamson, recommended donor country and institutions to reform fiscal policy discipline, redirection of public spending for pro poor basis, tax reform, positive interest rate, competitive exchange rate, trade liberalization etc. IMF operates with Board of Governors, executive Board, Managing Director and staffs which works for the balance of external sector of the country. It also grants concessional and non concessional credit to the member country in the time of economic crisis and emergency situations. World Bank group consists of IBRD, IFC, IDA, ICSID and MIGA, which provides long-run capital to member countries for economic reconstruction and development, promotes capital investment and implements development projects. ADB provides both hard loans and soft loans; hard loan is targeted to middle income countries and soft loan is targeted to poor countries with low interest rates. ADB operates with Board of Governors, Board of Directors and Management. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank is newly established international financial institution in 2016 with the initiation of China. It has aimed to support the building of infrastructure in the Asia-Pacific region. These institutions ultimately contribute for economic diplomacy and international cooperation because no region and a country is self dependent to fulfill their necessity in the globalized society. However, there are many voices against the performance of this institution by claiming these institutions are the forum of developed countries. Yet, we cannot disregard the contribution made by them in international peace and financial architectures and for the growth of developing and least developed countries. In the national and international financial crisis, they are developing the policy and standard to cope the problems with. In fact, these institutions support for the acceleration of growth of developing countries.

Dangerous Liaisons? State-Chaebol Co-operation and the Global Privatisation of Development

ABSTRACTThis article analyses the relationships between private and public sectors in shaping the South Korean development assistance agenda. Since 2008, subsequent Korean administrations have made development assistance a keystone of their foreign policy. Fast growing middle-income countries seem to be favourite development partners for these administrations and the parallel increase in the overseas expansion of Korean chaebol in these developing partner markets suggests that interactions between private economic interests and development assistance exigencies have been numerous. Based upon fieldwork on Korean development assistance, this article shows that Korean conglomerates are both informally and structurally included in decision-making processes as a result of the specific governance architecture inherited from the developmental state era. But recently, since its accession to the Development Assistance Committee in 2010, Korea has also been institutionalising private actors’ inclusion in official development assistance delivery mechanisms. This should be understood as part of a global agenda that has increasingly privatised development formulation and delivery. The inclusion of chaebol in official development assistance through institutional mechanisms might actually be more aligned with Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development norms than the existing literature suggests.

Issues of Japan's assistance and support for Mongolia

Through assistance to developing countries (Official Development Assistance (ODA)), Japan has contributed to the resolution of many evolving challenges which Japan and international community face. Japan’s assistance to Mongolia is implemented from a viewpoint that economic development and humanitarian assistance in Mongolia will contribute to peace and prosperity in the region and the world. When Mongolia moved towards systematic transformation in 1990, prospects for sharing values such as freedom, democracy and market economy brightened. Japan started extensive bilateral assistance hoping that the success of systematic transformation and economic development in Mongolia would contribute to peace and stability in Asia and the world and that Mongolia would become a friendly nation of Japan. The relation between Mongolia and Japan have become expending to a new level from 1990, and become “Comprehensive partnership level” from 1997, progressed to “Strategic partnership level” from 2010 and “Economic partnership” cooperation level has come from 2015.

Kuwait's Foreign Policy towards Regional Issues in the Middle East from 2003 to 2014

Regionally, Kuwait has a unique foreign policy that is characterized by neutrality. This study investigates Kuwait’s foreign policy towards regional issues in the Middle East in the period from 2003 to 2014. The study investigates the role of two tools of foreign policy: economics and mediation. The study investigates the role and implications of both economics and economic development assistance in activating foreign policy in Kuwait. It determines social, political, cultural and economic implications of economic development assistance in implementing and activating foreign policy in Kuwait. The study discusses some mechanisms of activating the economic foreign policy in Kuwait such as interdependence, soft power and national interests. It investigates mediation as one of foreign policy activation tools. The study suggests some ways for improving the efficiency of economic development assistance in implementing and activating foreign policy.

Why Professionalize? Economic Modernization and Military Professionalism1

AbstractWhy do states professionalize the military? Professionalizing the military represents a strategic commitment to a particular set of ideas about the role of the military, and the timing and strength of this commitment to military professionalism have varied widely between countries, especially non-European ones. Understanding this process is important in an era of defense austerity, when the choice of how to spend defense resources has deeper political consequences than it used to. Despite the importance of this question, there have been almost no large-n studies of military professionalization. Analyzing new data on more than 150 countries from 1800 to 2005, this study finds that states with greater levels of human capital, urbanization, and economic wealth are more likely to professionalize. What is more, these indicators of economic modernization have a substantially stronger correlation with measures of military professionalism than regime type and international security concerns. These findings should inform security assistance operations by emphasizing the development of human capital in recipient officer corps and drawing links between economic development and security assistance programs.