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Foreign Aid for State-Building: A Comparative Study of Australian and Chinese Aid Programs in Timor-Leste

Barreto Soares, Laurentina Domingas
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1314039039

Abstract Details

2011, Master of Arts (MA), Ohio University, International Development Studies (International Studies).
State-building effort is a continuous process in post-conflict countries. Since 2002, Timor-Leste has been in the process of its state-building endeavor with the support of the international community. Most of the foreign aid to the country has been for the purpose of state-building projects, the result however is a mixed record. Considerable criticisms have pointed towards donors' lack of concern regarding the state-building needs of the recipient country, as too much focus has been placed on their national interest. In recent years, Australian and Chinese aid has come under criticism. Critics have argued that important issues like poverty reduction and social and economic development have become secondary to both countries' national interests. This study explores the two countries' long-term goals in Timor-Leste by comparing and contrasting their aid programs to state-building initiatives from 2002-2011. It found that the two countries have differences in their aid programs as well as commonalities in terms of their approach to aid projects and programs and their national interest. The study argues that both countries' aid has been used as currency for buying time, political influence, and the hearts and minds of the Timorese for the purpose their long term goals. Foreign aid serves as a soft power instrument for maintaining the two countries' geopolitical and geostrategic interests and future influence and for achieving economic opportunities in the region. The government of Timor-Leste needs to play a "smart diplomacy" card, continue to befriend, and open to all countries, while maintaining balanced relations between Australia and China and at the same time strengthen its coordination role at home by taking a more active and effective leadership role in the management of international assistance for the purpose the country's state-building needs.
Dr. Yeong-Hyun Kim (Advisor)
Dr. Thomas A. Smucker (Committee Member)
Dr. Ariaster Baumgratz Chimeli (Committee Member)
146 p.
International Relations
Foreign aid for state-building; Australian and Chinese aid programs; national interest; boomerang aid

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Barreto Soares, L. D. (2011). Foreign Aid for State-Building: A Comparative Study of Australian and Chinese Aid Programs in Timor-Leste [Master's thesis, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1314039039

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Barreto Soares, Laurentina. Foreign Aid for State-Building: A Comparative Study of Australian and Chinese Aid Programs in Timor-Leste. 2011. Ohio University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1314039039.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Barreto Soares, Laurentina. "Foreign Aid for State-Building: A Comparative Study of Australian and Chinese Aid Programs in Timor-Leste." Master's thesis, Ohio University, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1314039039

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ohiou1314039039
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© 2011, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.