Show Notes
Do contemporary development aid systems and institutions simply perpetuate old forms of colonial control and dependency? This episode critically examines one of the most contentious aspects of international assistance - aid as neocolonialism - exploring how the "aid industrial complex" can maintain existing power imbalances even in the absence of direct rule.
To delve into these challenging questions at a time when global aid funding is at its lowest in decades and the Sustainable Development Goals are significantly off-track, 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) continue the Global Aid Rethink series.
Joining Ivica and Melita for this incisive discussion are Professor Sophia Price, Head of the School of Social Sciences at Birkbeck, University of London, and Aude Darnal, Research Analyst and Project Manager at the Stimson Center and Founder of the Global South in the World Order project. Together, they explore the historical context of neocolonialism, dissecting how issues like conditionality and the marginalisation of local actors enforce systemic inequalities. The conversation also addresses the potential for resistance and decolonisation within the aid system, questioning whether a truly decolonised approach to aid is achievable amidst current global shifts
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 Sophia Price and Aude Darnal Producer: Catherine McDonald, Research Podcasts Music: MFCC via Pixabay
This podcast was generously funded by the ESRC-funded Royal Holloway Social Science Impact Accelerator Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More from Global Aid Rethink
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As traditional overseas aid drops to historic lows, is the growing reliance on private sector instruments a genuine solution or a geopolitical pivot? This episode investigates the increasing financialisation of development cooperation, exploring how aid is being channelled through development finance institutions (DFIs) to crowd in private capital, and what this structural shift means for accountability, transparency, and state capacity in the Global South.
Following the catastrophic funding drops of 2025, what does the immediate future hold for international development cooperation? This episode investigates the immediate impacts of deep aid cuts on the ground, addressing the driving forces behind fragile public support in donor nations, the severe consequences of funding withdrawals on health sectors, and how the current geopolitical environment is accelerating a shift away from traditional donor-recipient paradigms.
With global funding at its lowest in decades and the Sustainable Development Goals significantly off-track, what does the future look like for the global aid landscape? This concluding episode synthesises insights from across the series, reflecting on profound systemic shifts, the implications of recent deep aid cuts in the UK and US, and the immense challenges of rebuilding the moral and political case for international assistance.
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