Using Foreign Aid as a Foreign Policy Tool: The Case of Japan

Abstract

This article attempts to explain the relationship between foreign policy and foreign aid. The question of how Japan's Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme is related to Japan's foreign policy will be explored. The findings suggest that foreign aid has been used to promote Japan's national interests and national security since the 1950's. Although Japan has used ODA in order to prevent humanitarian violation and promote democracy, especially since the 1990's, the humanitarian aspect of ODA has remained secondary to concerns about national interests. Japanese aid programs to ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) nations, Africa, China and the Kurile Islands will be analyzed in support of our argument that ODA is, at root, a realist approach.

Keywords

Japan, Official Development Assistance, ASEAN, United States, China

Citation

Balcı, Ali, Yeşiltaş, Murat, “Using Foreign Aid as a Foreign Policy Tool: The Case of Japan”, International Relations, Volume 2, Issue 8 (Winter 2005-2006), pp. 167-198.

Affiliations

• Ali Balcı, Research Assistant, Sakarya University, Department of International Relations
• Murat Yeşiltaş, Research Assistant, Sakarya University, Department of International Relations