摘要
"Hearts and minds" theory contends development aid strengthens community support for counterinsurgents by providing jobs and public goods. Based on field interviews in Kabul, we develop an alternative theoretical framework emphasizing instead the ideological preferences of civilians. In our model, some aid projects are ideologically contentious while others are benign. Given a mix of foreign aid, each civilian supports either the counterinsurgents or rebels, depending on his/her idiosyncratic preferences. In this setting, greater provisions of aid can actually erode community support. Donors therefore calibrate the mix of foreign aid to appease population groups with relatively strong ideological sensibilities. Individual-level analysis based on unique Afghan data substantiates key features of our theory. Benign projects lead to favorable opinions of development, while contentious aid has the opposite effect. Moreover, favorable opinions of development are associated with stronger support for government and counterinsurgents, and weaker support for rebels.
源语言 | 英语 |
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文章编号 | 00220027221074898 |
期刊 | Journal of Conflict Resolution |
早期在线日期 | 22 6月 2022 |
DOI | |
出版状态 | 已出版 - 2022 |
Corresponding author email
t.b.child@ceibs.eduProject sponsor
Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) European CommissionMarie Curie Actions Initial Training Network - PODER
China Europe International Business School (CEIBS)
成果物的来源
- SSCI
- ABDC-A*