Non-traditional donors and geopolitics of foreign aid: China, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates in Africa

Official URL: https://risc01.sabanciuniv.edu/record=b2756100_(Table of contents)

The rise of non-traditional (non-DAC) donors is one of the most significant debates concerning the international development agenda. In my research, I examine why non-traditional donors provide foreign aid. Based on their economic and political interests, this dissertation investigates how power relations influence China, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates’ foreign aid behavior. Using descriptive and inferential quantitative methods, I follow a three-step empirical quest to to elucidate non-traditional donors’ foreign aid behavior. First, this research shows that nontraditional donors adjust their foreign aid flows in response to the existence of DAC donors in their country. Second, I investigate how non-traditional donors respond to political and economic Western conditionalities. Finally, I explore whether nontraditional donors behave differently from traditional donors. My findings indicate that non-DAC donors adjust foreign aid flows in response to competitive recipient environments. On the other hand, I find that China, Turkiye, and the UAE do not similarly respond to traditional donors’ political and economic conditionalities. Lastly, this research suggests that non-DAC donors and DAC are not different in terms of prioritizing recipient needs. This dissertation contributes to the literature by revealing how non-traditional donors react toWestern political and economic conditionalities, as well as demonstrating how traditional and non-traditional donors behave similarly with regard to their political and economic interests. My empirical inquiry reinforces the interest-based and systemic understanding of donor behavior.