Helping abroad: Asian economic diplomacy vs. European development aid

IIAS Centre for Regulation and Governance Seminar Series 2011

The third seminar of the 2011 series will discuss the approach to development aid in major Asian economies and Europe. Development aid is often viewed from a moral perspective in Europe. In recent decades, it also included the attempt to improve socio-legal institutions in order to achieve a sustainable, long-lasting impact. On the other hand, major Asian economies use development projects and assistance to build vital infrastructure in developing countries to improve economic relations and secure resources or other political or strategic advantages. Obviously, in this context development aid can be viewed as an important instrument of foreign economic policy and is closely linked to the economic interests and benefits of major industrial players. The speakers will focus on the relationship between policymaking and economic considerations as well as the formal and informal links between government authorities, semi-government bodies, the industry, and major banks.

The seminar aims to discuss recent developments with respect to efforts to help developing countries and balance global social and economic inequalities and the relation of such aid with economic considerations. The presentations will explain the background of state policies and give an overview of the institutional and business actors that participate in these efforts.

programme

Introduction by the Chair

Prof. Dr. Meine Pieter van Dijk

Prof. Dr. Meine Pieter van Dijk
International Institute of Social Studies (ISS), The Hague, and UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, Delft

1. Presentation

Economic diplomacy: Japan’s model

Maaike Okano-Heijmans

Clingendael Diplomatic Studies Programme and Clingendael Asia Studies, The Hague

2. Presentation

Development aid from a European perspective

Prof. Dr. Wil Hout

International Institute for Social Studies (ISS), The Hague

3. Q&A

Information & Registration:

Ms. Susann Handke, crg@iias.nl

IIAS Centre for Regulation and Governance Seminar Series 2011:

The State and Economic Development in Asia and Europe

The IIAS Centre for Regulation and Governance, as the first European research centre devoted to the study of regulation and governance in Asia, engages in innovative and comparative research on the theories and practices of regulation and governance and serves as a focal point of collaborative research between European and Asian scholars. The seminars aim to broaden the understanding of political economic developments in Asia from a comparative perspective related to policy choices in Europe, and provide a platform for the discussion of developments that have shaped the global economy in the last few decades. The influence of the state on economic development will be examined by focusing on several aspects of economic policy, i.e. (international) financial regulation, resource policy, foreign econom­ic coope­ration, and the role of the state in different stages of industri­ali­sation. The seminars are intended for academics, policy­makers, and students of political science, public administration, regional studies, and international economics.