(iPoster) Competing Aid and Public Perception: Evidence from the African Continent

• In Event: Poster Session: International Political Economy II

Abstract

Does aid from competing foreign countries shape public perceptions of those countries? This question is particularly relevant for Africa, where the intersection of local infrastructure and development needs with the continent's geopolitical potential has attracted aid from China, the US, the UK, and France. However, research in recent years, often limited by data constraints, typically examines the effect of aid on the perceptions of one single donor country, especially China, with mixed results. This paper bridges the gap by utilizing the newly compiled Geocoded Official Development Assistance Dataset (GODAD) and geocoded public opinion data from Afrobarometer. By spatially linking aid projects in Africa from China, the US, the UK, and France to local citizens’ perceptions of which country serves as the best development model for their home country, this study comprehensively examines the influence of competing aid. The paper argues that aid generally improves public perceptions of China, but that effect is subdued when accounting for the number and proximity of aid projects from other countries. Moreover, the nature of the aid projects matters: proximity to infrastructure projects correlates with more favorable perceptions, while exposure to resource-intensive projects has the opposite effect. Given Africa's colonial history with Western powers and China’s rising influence, the study further suggests that Chinese aid is more effective at enhancing public perception of the provider country than Western aid. These findings offer new insights into how Africa reacts to competing aid, perceives and engages with China, and how the US and its Western allies can strategically use aid to strengthen relations with those countries and respond to China's growing presence.

Author

• Yongzheng (Parker) Li, University of British Columbia