Financial Dependence Research Articles

Emergency medical services impact evaluation approaches in low and middle-income countries

There is a strong need to critically consider the neocolonial context when discussing the impact evaluation of Eemergency Medical Services (EMS) systems in many low to middle-income countries. Many of these countries have faced exploitation and settler colonialism, and in today’s world the aftermath of these political–economic unequal power dynamics persists through neocolonialism. “Solutions” to prehospital care and related donor-driven development sector aid programs are typically orchestrated by high-income countries in the Global North, many of whom directly benefited from centuries of colonizing the Global South. This perpetuates the financial and technocratic dependency of many low to middle-income countries.Traditional Global North–led impact assessment typically revolves around mortality outcomes. This is problematic because singularly tracking mortality can obscure the influence of important factors at play beyond the emergency response incident itself, such as morbidity and socioeconomic privilege. This is why process indicators such as response times and economic impacts on first responders and communities are crucial. Hence, instead of trying to develop a one-size-fits-all impact assessment criteria for all the diverse prehospital care system contexts across the world, it is important to focus on enabling bottom-up, community-led, and participatory approaches to finding context-tailored solutions. A key element of this should be the co-creation of the measures of success themselves with the community stakeholders.Such a decolonial holistic approach may then help put the spotlight on often neglected important measures, such as the inclusion of underprivileged minorities in emergency response and the level of protection against catastrophic health care expenditure built into EMS systems. In doing so, it can encourage a monitoring and evaluation shift from short-term mortality to long-term wellbeing, taking into account cultural contexts about what “wellbeing” entails. Furthermore, it is important to challenge the taken-for-granted notion that in low to middle-income countries, EMS systems are solely for trauma and medical emergencies. It is also important to consider (with the dialogue led by the local stakeholders) what sustainability would look like, and how resources accordingly should be allocated, in those regions in low to middle-income countries where there is political and economic volatility as a consequence of continuing neocolonial hegemony.

Analisis Kinerja Keuangan pada Pemerintah Kabupaten/Kota di Provinsi Jambi Tahun 2020-2022

This study aims to evaluate the financial performance of district/city governments in the province of Jambi during the period of 2020-2022, measured using the Degree of Decentralization Ratio, Local Financial Dependency Ratio, Local Financial Independence Ratio, Local Own Revenue Effectiveness Ratio, and Expenditure Efficiency Ratio. This research is a descriptive quantitative study that utilizes secondary data from audited Local Government Budget Realization Reports. The results show diverse patterns of financial performance: the majority of district/city governments have a Very Low Degree of Decentralization, Local Financial Independence tends to be Extremely Low with an instructive relationship pattern, Local Financial Dependency is generally high, Local Own Revenue Effectiveness is mostly Very Effective with diverse distributions, and Expenditure Efficiency is generally categorized as Efficient.

Influence of Financial Resources Management on Project Performance in Public Institutions: A Case of Kigali City (2018-2022)

In this study, we examine the impact of financial resource management on project performance. Projects in Kigali City were poorly implemented due to misappropriation of public funds and insufficient measurement of project performance, especially in subdivisions and surrounding villages, leading to project failure. In directing this research project, two purposes were set: to assess the impact of financial resource management planning on project performance in Kigali City and to examine the impact of financial resource control on project performance in Kigali City. Both financial literacy and resource dependency theories were used, furthermore in order to achieve these objectives, literature was reviewed on the subject matter including definitions of key concepts, conceptual review, theoretical framework, conceptual framework and research gap analysis, additionally the target population of the study was 312 employees of Kigali City and out of them a sample size of 175 employees were selected by using stratified sampling technique. Questionnaires, interview guides and documents were used as data collection tools. Data was processed through editing, coding and tabulation and the data also was analyzed by using descriptive statistics. Findings indicated that there is a significance relationship between financial resources management and City of Kigali’s project performance; and it was found that holding all the financial resources management to a constant zero, project performance of Kigali City will be 30.6 percent, a unit increase in the use of financial resource planning will lead to a 0.731% improvement in project performance in Kigali City, the use of financial resource management will lead to a 1% improvement in project performance in Kigali City. The regression analysis revealed significant coefficients indicating the impact of financial resource management on project performance in Kigali City. With a constant of 0.346, when financial resource management is absent, the project performance is estimated to be 30.6%. For every unit increase in financial resource planning, there is a corresponding 0.731% rise in project performance (Beta = 0.731, t = 6.008, p < 0.001), and similarly, a 1% increase in financial resource control leads to enhanced project performance (Beta = 0.500, t = 2.550, p = 0.025). Notably, financial resource planning exerts the strongest influence on project performance, followed by financial resource control. Both variables demonstrated statistical significance, with p-values of 0.000 and 0.025 respectively, at a 95% confidence level. Thus, all factors examined are deemed significant (p < 0.05). Therefore, based on the findings, the researchers recommend that the public entity Kigali City should continuously ensure that it has financial control expertise to ensure organizational performance.

Communal Effect Attitudes on Punjab Senior Citizens

Among the most vulnerable groups in society is the elderly, who face issues such as a deteriorating feeling of self-worth brought on by physical weakness, a dwindling social position, and limited financial resources. Feelings of insignificance have been exacerbated by the fact that families are finding it more difficult to care for the elderly due to socioeconomic and demographic changes. As a result, psychological difficulties frequently outweigh outward indications of aging as people age. With a specific focus on 260 senior individuals in Punjab between the ages of 60 and 90, this study sought to investigate the effects of family and social attitudes toward the old. The majority of respondents claimed financial independence, but only 11% reported having stable finances due to rental income and savings account interest. But 8% struggled to pay for everyday needs, and some experienced severe financial difficulties related to fundamental needs and family responsibilities. Remarkably, only 11.7% of older people consistently created strong social relationships, compared to 76.6% who did so on occasion. Furthermore, 16.7% of respondents admitted to their situation, suggesting a greater dedication to maintaining family togetherness. The behavioral changes aligned with the perceptions of 83% of senior respondents who observed a shift in the way older persons view their basic obligations. Family dynamics, economic dependence, physical abuse cases, feelings of isolation, inadequate social support, family members' disdain, and food-related issues were among the main concerns. The study emphasized the complex relationships that exist between aging, health problems, decreased physical activity, and elder abuse. It also clarified the critical roles that qualities, social interactions, financial dependence, and behaviors have in influencing these relationships.

The frailty among suburban elderly population after one-year COVID-19 pandemic in Cirebon Regency, Indonesia.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had significant impacts worldwide, especially among older adults. Frailty is a determinant of susceptibility to morbidity and mortality due to COVID-19 in the elderly. This study aimed to determine frailty status and identify factors associated with the suburban elderly population in Cirebon Regency, Indonesia, after the one-year COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional study of community-dwelling individuals aged ≥ 60 years was conducted in Klangenan, Cirebon Regency, Indonesia, from March to June 2021. A questionnaire was used to determine the baseline characteristics of participants, healthcare access, comorbidity, and frailty status. The Ina-FRAIL scale was used to determine the frailty status (frail/non-frail). The chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were used to determine the association between independent variables and frailty. A total of 383 participants were recruited, with a median age of 67 (IQR 64-73) years. The prevalence of frailty in the present study was 10.2%. Multivariate analysis showed that age (OR 2.73; 95%CI 1.21-6.12), multimorbidity (OR 7.86; 95% CI 3.01-20.57) and financial dependence (OR 13.40, 95% CI 5.66-31.73) were significantly associated with frailty. One-year COVID-19 pandemic has had a considerable burden on frailty among the suburban elderly population in Indonesia. The factors associated with frailty were age, multimorbidity, and financial dependence.

From pragmatism to passion: changing partner preferences in Dutch matrimonial and contact advertisements, 1841–1995

ABSTRACT This article explores the evolution of partner preferences in the Dutch mating market from 1841 to 1995, focusing on the rise of the cultural ideal of love-based partner selection. The study examines two hypotheses related to partner selection in modernization theory: the romantic-love hypothesis and the status-attainment hypothesis. These hypotheses are tested with descriptive and multivariate analysis using a database on matrimonial and contact advertisements. The study shows that the transition from instrumental to romantic partner choice was a gradual process, that in the Netherlands only gained momentum in the latter half of the twentieth century coinciding with processes of individualisation and the rise of the welfare state, a century later than earlier literature suggests. First instrumental preferences declined, then romantic preferences grew in importance. Furthermore, while the status-attainment hypothesis predicts an increase in educational preferences over time, the growth was slower and later than expected. These findings challenge both the romantic-love and status-attainment hypotheses and suggest an adjusted combined hypothesis. The study also highlights the role of social status and gender in partner preferences. Advertisers from higher social classes were more likely to express romantic preferences, indicating that wealthier individuals were earlier on inclined to turn love into the cornerstone of their relationships. Women exhibited a stronger emphasis on social status and educational level than men, highlighting gender role ideas of the time with women’s financial dependence guiding their preferences for a partner that could provide for them and their children. Moreover, the research demonstrates that religion and civil status did not significantly influence the internalization of love-based partner choice. The article concludes by emphasizing the significance of matrimonial and contact advertisements as valuable sources for comprehending the quest for a partner in the past and suggests potential avenues for future research based on these advertisements.

Saving and Credit Cooperatives Services and Socio-economic Empowerment of Women in Temeke Municipality, Tanzania

The majority of the SACCOS clientele consists of low-income women who form solidarity groups to obtain credit. However, poverty has persisted among women and their communities for a very long time. This study assessed the financial services that SACCOS offer to women and the impacts that SACCOS have on women's empowerment and household livelihoods in Temeke Municipality, Tanzania. Focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews (KIIs) were used in a qualitative research design to gather primary data from female members of the selected SACCOS (Mbagala Lutheran and KIUMA) on the research issue. The survey found that women use SACCOS for a wide range of services, such as savings accounts, low-cost loans, options for investing and financial advisory services. Additionally, the study revealed that SACCOS have both non-financial and financial impacts on women's empowerment and household livelihoods, including greater financial security through saving and insurance products, strengthening of financial literacy and decision-making skills among women, empowerment through participation in SACCOS leadership and decision-making, business development through access to capital and credits from SACCOS, and enhanced household ability to meet basic and material needs. This study concludes that it is through its services that SACCOS is an instrumental entity in addressing the financial inclusion gap, especially for women in Tanzania. Moreover, it is recommended based on this study that, apart from mere financial services, SACCOS and other microfinance institutions should invest in education and financial advisory services to assist women in making wise financial decisions, such as budgeting and making productive investments of capital. This is because women save more in SACCOS; however, a large number of them have continuously been trapped in a vicious cycle of financial debt, poverty, and dependency syndrome

SMEs and financial dependence: how important are foreign banks?

PurposeThe importance of financial dependence of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) on their performance is a relatively unaddressed area of research. Relatedly, whether and to what extent foreign bank penetration exerts an impact in the presence of financial dependence also remains an open question. The purpose of the paper in this regard is to exploit unit-level data on Indian SMEs and assess the independent and interactive effects of financial dependence on SME behaviour, in the presence of foreign banks.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses fixed effects specification to address the issue. In subsequent analysis, this study also uses an instrumental variable approach for robustness.FindingsThe results indicate that financial dependence improves investment and employment, although there is a decline in productivity. These findings differ across size classes of SMEs. Similar is the evidence in the presence of foreign banks. In particular, foreign bank penetration leads to a decline in investment for micro and medium SMEs, although for small SMEs, the impact is found to be the opposite.Originality/valueTo the best of the author’s knowledge, this is one of the early within-country studies to examine the interface between SMEs and financial dependence and the role played by foreign banks in this regard.

Drinking Poison to Quench Thirst: Local Government Land Financial Dependence and Urban Innovation Quality

Drinking Poison to Quench Thirst: Local Government Land Financial Dependence and Urban Innovation Quality

The Effects of Job Stress on Burnout and Turnover Intention: The Moderating Effects of Job Security and Financial Dependency.

(1) Background: The hospitality industry is known for exposing employees to work stress, which can lead to work-related burnout and high turnover rates. This study aims to examine the relationships between work stress, work-related burnout, and turnover intention. It also explores the mediating role of work-related burnout and the moderating role of job security and financial dependence. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 494 hotel employees working in five-star hotels in Belek and Manavgat, Türkiye, using a moderated mediation research model. The study found that work stress increases work-related burnout, which in turn increases turnover intention. Additionally, work-related burnout was found to mediate the relationship between work stress and turnover intention. Furthermore, it was found that perceived job security moderates the relationship between work stress levels and work-related burnout. Additionally, the variable of financial dependence was found to moderate the relationship between employees' levels of work-related burnout and their turnover intentions. Similarly, the study found that the financial dependence variable moderates the effect of work-related burnout on employees' turnover intention. Additionally, the study found that employees' perception of job security moderates the impact of work stress on work-related burnout. In conclusion, the study suggests that positive perceptions of job security can mitigate the impact of work stress on work-related burnout. Similarly, the impact of work-related burnout on turnover intention diminishes as the degree of financial dependence rises.

Coloniality dressed in green: in its current form, climate finance risks becoming a new tool for colonial rule

As the impacts of the climate crisis are being increasingly felt, a critical part of the solution is said to be the issue of mobilising climate finance. Particularly for the Global South, climate finance is crucial for sustainable development; to simultaneously meet the challenges of the climate crisis while addressing issues around economic development, health, poverty and beyond. Yet at present, Southern progress is being held back by ongoing and evolving patterns of Northern neo-coloniality, including through finance and debt relationships. In a context where the mainstream approach to mobilising climate finance – centring private finance, derisked by the state – reflects the dominance of US-style market-based finance, climate finance in this form simply risks becoming a new mechanism by which Southern countries are exposed to new types of subordination and dependence. Instead, structural changes and policy space is required for the Global South to break away from Northern financial dependence. The Bridgetown Agenda and calls for a new Bretton Woods moment are important steps in this direction. However, in addition such countries need the ability to develop financial institutions and regulatory structures that can simultaneously direct credit towards priority areas, regulate capital flows, and develop infrastructure that is democratically owned and oriented towards the needs of public and environment.

Does algorithmic control facilitate platform workers’ deviant behavior toward customers? The ego depletion perspective

Online labor platforms widely implement algorithmic control to ensure that workers consistently deliver quality services. However, extensive evidence suggests that platform workers under the tight monitoring of algorithms still engage in customer-directed deviant behavior, which raises questions about the effectiveness of algorithmic control. Thus, we draw on ego depletion theory to examine the critical issue of why and when algorithmic control fails to reduce workers' undesirable behavior toward customers. This study conducted a three-phase online questionnaire survey with 377 ride-hailing drivers in China. Data were analyzed using the PROCESS macro model. The results show that algorithmic control excessively drains workers' limited self-control resources and drives them into an ego-depleted state with low control ability, which further creates conditions for more deviance. Algorithmic transparency alleviates the influence of algorithmic control on ego depletion, whereas financial dependence on platform work mitigates the impact of ego depletion on customer-directed deviance. The indirect effect of ego depletion is most pronounced when both algorithmic transparency and financial dependence are lower. We shed light on the mediating mechanism and boundary conditions of the unexpected facilitating influence of algorithmic control on workers’ customer-directed deviant behavior, providing feasible directions for optimizing algorithmic control system design and reducing customer-directed deviant behavior.

Ignorance As Political Instrument? Integration Discourses on Migrant Welfare Recipients in Switzerland

ABSTRACT Agnotology, the study of doubt and ignorance in areas where knowledge can be possessed, altered, hidden, and reclaimed, offers multiple insights into the working of states. This article explores the role of ‘ignoring’ as an active strategy of ignorance; a practice used by local governments to disregard certain knowledge and the production of alternative framings. Studying the intersection of welfare and migration policy based on an example of policy making and implementation in Switzerland, this work shows how resistance can be built by not paying attention, thus ignoring certain rules and policies, while actively shaping alternative frameworks to increase migrants’ rights. The cases build on the newly introduced Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration, in which integration requirements exclude social assistance reception for foreign nationals in case they intend to retain or stabilise their residence status. Any financial dependence will thus cause a potential loss of residence or settlement permit. Focusing on the deficit of migrants individually and as a collective, therefore allows governments to exclude them, making ‘knowledge production’ and ‘ignoring’ fruitful concepts to explore such bordering processes. Yet, two city initiatives contested these restrictions, developing alternative financial support for foreign nationals, even if one of them was ruled unlawful. The examples show how authorities create sanctuary policies and choose to circumvent laws through an active ignoring of national policy intentions, reframing them on the local level. Linking ignorance to such local scales and their sanctuary support provides an asset in understanding local and practical endeavours of municipalities to secure political autonomy and increase resistance strategies. Hence, a restrictive understanding of integration at the national level foregrounds a one-sided view of non-citizens as costly and potential abusers of allegedly generous welfare support. Migration and social policy laws support such a one-sided perspective by allowing assessments to consider mainly economic integration, thereby excluding those who are not active in the labour market. However, local responses can challenge this one-sidedness by choosing to ignore an overly restrictive framework and try out potentials to resist.

Emerging adult siblings' relational entitlement and conflict: The moderating effects of financial dependence on parents

AbstractPast literature has documented a linkage between entitlement and interpersonal tension, primarily in romantic relationships. However, there is a lack of research investigating the impact of entitlement on sibling relationships. Guided by the agency model of narcissism and adult development literature, this study conceptualized relational entitlement as one form of state narcissism and examined the actor and partner effects of relational entitlement on perceived sibling conflict as well as the moderating effects of financial dependence on parents. Participants were 136 emerging adult sibling dyads (older sibling Mage = 22.20, SD = 2.35; younger sibling Mage = 19.54, SD = 1.55). Results indicated that younger siblings' (not older siblings') relational entitlement was positively associated with both their own and their siblings' perceptions of conflict. Moreover, younger siblings' financial dependence buffered the actor association between younger siblings' relational entitlement and perceived conflict. These findings suggest that emerging adult siblings' developmental status of financial dependence provides a nuanced context for understanding the actor and partner effects of relational entitlement on sibling conflict. The discussion focuses on the role of self‐inflated social comparison in emerging adult sibling conflict and how the developmental characteristics of older and younger siblings shape the above associations.

Reshaping Power Relations Within the International Aid Regime: The Role of the People’s Republic of China and Africa

ABSTRACT International aid is one of the main issues within the Liberal International Order (LIO) in Africa, where traditional donors have held significant influence since the Second World War (WWII). The power dynamics within the aid regime, which have been characterised by asymmetry in both guiding standards and administering organisations, have started to undergo disruption in recent decades. The relationship between the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has the potential to reshape the institutional arrangements of the international aid regime in the current global system. Beijing's increased financial presence in SSA, particularly its involvement in debt and financial dependency, challenges the hegemony of traditional donors who have historically employed Africa's debt and aid dependency as tools of asymmetric power. Both African governments and the PRC advocate for deep reforms of the current regime by defending favoured institutional arrangements, rejecting those deemed unfavourable and establishing new ones to substantially shift power dynamics within the international aid regime.

Kemandirian Keuangan Daerah Pemerintah Kota Tasikmalaya Tahun Anggaran 2019-2022

This research aims to describe the regional financial independence of the Tasikmalaya City Government for the 2019-2022 fiscal year. Considering that the PAD of Tasikmalaya City is still at a low level in contributing to regional income in Tasikmalaya City in the 2019-2022 fiscal year compared to the element of transfer funds and the regional financial capacity of the Tasikmalaya City Government in managing all sources of local revenue is considered not optimal. This research uses a qualitative approach with a case study research design. This study uses the calculation of the ratio of regional financial independence, the ratio of the degree of fiscal decentralization, the ratio of regional financial dependence, the ratio of PAD effectiveness, and the ratio of PAD efficiency which refers to the theory of Mahmudi (2016). Data collection techniques used in this research are documentation and interviews. The results of the research show that the Tasikmalaya City Government during the 2019-2022 fiscal year has an average regional financial independence is 23.46% with an instructive relationship pattern, the average degree of fiscal decentralization is 18.20% with a category of financial capability is less, the average financial dependence is still classified as very high with a ratio is 77.96%, the average effectiveness of PAD is 98.06% with a moderately effective category, and the average PAD efficiency is 1.82% with a very efficient category.

Predicting Satisfaction with Money Management and Life Satisfaction in Parents of Emerging Adult Students

AbstractMany parents cope with the prolonged financial dependence of their emerging adult children and problems arising from sharing a household, which may challenge parental satisfaction with money management (SMM) and life satisfaction (LS). We created and tested a conceptual model of potential pathways to parental SMM and LS. Data were collected in a sample of 482 student–parent pairs via an online survey that included adjusted questionnaires on financial functioning (Shim et al., Journal of Youth and Adolescence 39:1457–1470, 2010) and Satisfaction with Life Scale (Diener et al., Journal of Personality Assessment 49:71–75, 1985). Relying on the model of financial satisfaction from the student perspective (Sirsch et al., Emerging Adulthood 8:509–520, 2020), we proposed pathways of the family SES, financial parenting (explicit teaching and financial behavior; parent report; 22.8% fathers), and parent–child financial relationships (student report; Mage = 19.94; 45.2% males) to parental SMM and LS. We also anticipated intermediate relations of financial parenting with the students' self-reported financial learning outcomes (cognitive and behavioral/relational). The SES, proactive parental financial behavior, and favorable parent–child financial relationships predicted parental SMM and LS. Financial parenting was linked to the student's positive financial learning outcomes, but only financial knowledge further influenced the financial relationship with their parents. The findings suggest the benefits of successful parental financial socialization for both the offspring's finance-related outcomes and their parents' satisfaction.

Socioeconomic support, quality of life, and prognosis of frailty among the older adults

AbstractBackgroundAlthough socioeconomic support is recommended for frailty management, its association with the prognosis of frailty is unclear.MethodsUsing data from participants aged ≥65 years in the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (2008–2018), the associations between socioeconomic support (source of income, medical insurance, community support, living status), onset of prefrailty/frailty, and worsening of prefrailty, were analyzed using multinominal logistic regression models. The associations between self‐reported low quality of life (QoL) and reversion of prefrailty/frailty were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression models. Associations with mortality risk were analyzed using Cox proportional hazard regression models.ResultsA total of 13,859 participants (mean age: 85.8 ± 11.1 years) containing 2056 centenarians were included. Financial dependence was a risk factor for low QoL among prefrail/frail individuals, but not among robust individuals. Having commercial or other insurance, and receiving social support from the community were protective factors for low QoL among prefrail/frail individuals and for the worsening of prefrailty. Continuing to work was a risk factor for low QoL, but a protective factor for worsening of prefrailty. A negative association between continuing to work and mortality existed in prefrail individuals aged <85 years and ≥85 years. Living alone was a risk factor for low QoL, but was not significantly associated with frailty prognosis.ConclusionsPrefrail and frail individuals were vulnerable to changes in socioeconomic support and more sensitive to it compared with robust individuals. Preferential policies regarding financial support, social support, and medical insurance should be developed for individuals with frailty.

Determinants of Child Abuse in Arusha Region

Although there are enormous efforts towards alleviation of child abuse worldwide, it still persists. It is estimated that between 500 million and 1.5 billion children worldwide bear some form of violence annually. That being the case, this study conducted research to find out the determinants of Child Abuse in Arusha. The research employed a descriptive research design. The sample size was 100 children. Structured and semi-structured questionnaires, interviews, and focus group discussions were employed as data collection tools. Quantitative and qualitative analysis was used to interpret the data, and inferential statistics was used to analyse the data. The study established that the age of the respondent, employment status of parent or guardian, income per month of parent or guardian, age of parent or guardian, and drugs and alcohol abuse by parent or guardian were individually useful in the prediction of Y (Experienced child abuse) which is the dependent variable. It is concluded that the risks of experiencing child abuse increase in the communities as a result of financial dependence, employment status, economic status, age at marriage, and parent or guardian tendency to substance abuse

Maternalism. Care and control in diplomatic engagements with civil society

Abstract Relations between diplomats and civil society are central to diplomatic work. However, scholarship on diplomacy has not paid sufficient attention to how diplomats interact with civil society actors abroad. This article theorises and empirically examines diplomatic engagements with civil society organisations (CSOs) in host states. The article introduces a new concept – maternalism – into the analytical toolbox of diplomacy studies. While the Bourdieu-inspired ‘practice turn’ has entailed a recalibration of the study of diplomacy towards the everyday work of diplomats, I claim that we need notions that will help us understand these everyday practices in the context of structural power inequalities. In this endeavour, instead of turning to the established notion of paternalism, I follow feminist thinking regarding motherhood and the ethics of care. Maternalism is proposed as a complementary heuristic to paternalism that is helpful in capturing different modes of engagement between unequal actors in international politics and is not marked by financial dependency or military power. Maternalism and paternalism rely on distinct practices of care and control. To empirically illustrate the utility of the notion of maternalism, I analyse diplomats representing seven liberal states in the illiberal states of Poland and Hungary.