Overview
The question of why countries give aid and assistance to other countries has long been a topic of debate- is it altruism, or selfishness? The assumption is sometimes made that donors from developing countries might be more motivated by altruism than ‘traditional’ western donors. This book demonstrates that on the contrary, the provision of development assistance can be used to serve national interests, allowing so-called ‘emerging’ donors to gain soft power in the international sphere by improving their image and global influence. Technical cooperation, or the transfer of knowledge, is an area of particular interest, as it can enable donors to position themselves as a global leader in a given field, with a unique set of skills and expertise in a knowledge area. This book uses the Brazilian case to demonstrate how a country such as Brazil can seek power and influence by providing no-strings-attached technical assistance. The empirical analysis unpicks the motivations behind development assistance, and how it can be used as a foreign policy tool. In doing so, the book sheds light upon the similarities and variations in the provision of technical cooperation as a foreign policy tool by China, India, and Brazil. This book will be of interest to researchers of International Development, South-South Cooperation, International Relations, and those working on Brazil specifically.
Full Product Details
Author: Déborah Barros Leal Farias
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd
Imprint: Routledge
Weight: 0.370kg
ISBN: 9780367666545
ISBN 10: 0367666545
Pages: 184
Publication Date: 30 September 2020
Audience:
College/higher education
,
Tertiary & Higher Education
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: In Print
This item will be ordered in for you from one of our suppliers. Upon receipt, we will promptly dispatch it out to you. For in store availability, please contact us.
Reviews
The phrase 'soft power' captures much of the essence of Brazil's international rise, especially when compared to the much harder power of other emerging countries like China. Deborah Farias' fascinating book shows us that there is surprising power in softness: Brazil deliberately eschews direct conditions and provides ample technical assistance without ties, positions that earn it gratitude and even some plums like the Directorship of the FAO. Along the way, we learn a great deal about not just Brazilian foreign policy-making, but the general politics of development assistance and the rise of South-South relations. This book is well worth the read. - Kathryn Hochstetler, Professor of International Development at the London School of Economics, UK
Author Information
Déborah Barros Leal Farias is a Lecturer in the University of New South Wales, Australia
