Global Aid Rethink: Aid as Soft Power

In the second episode of Global Aid Rethink, hosts Ivica Petrikova (Associate Professor in Politics and International Relations, Royal Holloway, University of London) and Melita Lazell (Associate Professor in Political Economy and Development at the University of Portsmouth) lead a crucial discussion on the complex concept of aid as soft power.

As global aid funding reaches historic lows and the Sustainable Development Goals face significant setbacks, the role and motivations behind international assistance are under intense scrutiny. This episode delves into how aid is increasingly deployed not merely for humanitarian or developmental purposes, but also as a strategic tool to exert influence and achieve foreign policy objectives.

Joining Ivica and Melita to unpack this intricate dynamic are Stephen Brown, Professor at the School of Political Studies at the University of Ottawa (also affiliated with the School of International Development and Global Studies), and Rose Worden, a Senior Analyst and Public Affairs and Policy Advisor. They explore the distinctions between soft and hard power, examining the ways in which aid can be used to persuade rather than coerce, and the implications for recipient nations and the broader global aid landscape.

Global Aid Rethink publishes fortnightly, on Tuesdays, from 22nd April 2025 to 1st July.  

• Read the transcript here

This is a Research Podcasts production.

Episode credits:

Presenters: Ivica Petrikova, Royal Holloway, University of London and Melita Lazell, Portsmouth University

Guests: Professor Stephen Brown and Rose Worden

Producer: Catherine McDonald, Research Podcasts

Music: MFCC via Pixabay

Artwork and Audiograms: Krissie Brighty-Glover and Lauren White, Research Podcasts

This podcast was generously funded by the ESRC-funded Royal Holloway Social Science Impact Accelerator

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