Rich Nation, Liberal Internationalist: Ideology and Action in Japanese Foreign Aid Policy

Joel Atkinson 이화여자대학교 국제지역연구소 2023 Asian International Studies Review Vol.24 No.2

Characterizations of foreign aid donors neglect the overarching importance of ideas in determining policy. This article explores Japan’s ideological criteria for foreign aid decision-making, differentiated both between goals and the instruments to achieve them, as well as between ideas in the specific foreground and the general background. Japan continues to operate with a recognizable postwar ideology, which synthesized aspects of an earlier militarist and economic nationalism paradigm with liberal internationalism. In recent years, the perception of a growing threat from China and other changes have catalyzed a shift in Japan’s ODA toward greater securitization and liberal value-orientation; however, aid policy still remains situated within this “Rich Nation, Liberal International” paradigm.

Chinese Foreign Aid Belief Systems: Comparing 1958–1961 and Today

Joel Atkinson 이화여자대학교 국제지역연구소 2021 Asian International Studies Review Vol.22 No.1

This article compares detailed descriptions of authoritative, policy-adjacent Chinese thinking about foreign aid, from 1958–1961 and today. It finds important differences, with a now greater acknowledged similarity between Western and Chinese aid as a powerful diplomatic, security and economic policy tool. However, overall there is remarkable consistency, suggesting salient carryovers in Chinese aid thinking. Notably, the giving and receiving of aid takes place within an overarching relationship-focused dialectical framework, understood from a perspective of Chinese socialist exceptionalism in opposition to Western (neo-)imperialist hegemony. Hence, there is a symmetry to the conceptualizations of Chinese and Western aid, with both seeking autonomy and power, overlaid with a stark asymmetry in essentialised motives.

Australian Peacekeeping

JOEL ATKINSON 한국국제정치학회 2010 한국국제정치학회 학술대회 발표논문집 Vol.2010 No.8

Australia’s interests related to the UN and its alliances and region have shaped its participation in peacekeeping operations. Australia’s limited participation in UN peacekeeping throughout the Cold War reflected the overriding importance of alliances and region during this period. The high point of Australian participation in global orientated UN peacekeeping occurred in the late 1980s-early 1990s. Since 1997, Australia has initiated several large peacekeeping missions in its immediate region, most notably in East Timor/Timor-Leste and Solomon Islands. Peacekeeping has shifted from being an activity Australia did primarily in the interest of its relationship with the UN, to one aimed at achieving its regional interests, even when carried out under the UN banner. So while peacekeeping has never been more important to Australia than it is today, peacekeeping for the UN is a low priority. Nevertheless, Australia’s major role in regional peacekeeping makes Australia a prospective partner in the ROK’s efforts to expand its international peacekeeping activities.

Development Assistance and Geopolitics in Australia-China-Taiwan Relations

JOEL ATKINSON 이화여자대학교 국제통상협력연구소 2015 Asian International Studies Review Vol.16 No.2

The development assistance programs of Australia, China and Taiwan impact each other’s geopolitical interests in the South Pacific region. This “aid triangle” has recently undergone a significant transformation. Previously, the interests of Australia and China aligned in competing against Taiwan for political influence in the region. However, since 2008, China-Taiwan relations have warmed and their aid contest in the South Pacific has been largely put on hold. This has ameliorated Taiwan’s conflict with Australia, and the two countries have increased their development assistance cooperation. However, China’s role in undermining Australia’s policy towards Fiji, and the global deterioration in China’s relations with a US coalition (including Australia), have potentially increased the competitive aspects of the Sino-Australian side of the triangle.

Sustainability of Capture Fisheries and SDG 14 : Life Below Water

JOEL ATKINSON,LUISA COOLS Institute for International Trade and Cooperation, 2017 Asian International Studies Review Vol.18 No.1

Unlike the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the new United Nations (UN) post-2015 Global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) include a goal related to conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas and marine resources— Sustainable Development Goal 14: “Life Below Water” (SDG 14). Inter alia, the goal aims to increase the sustainability of capture fisheries. For the most part, the sub-goals and targets emerging from this process are not new. Still, for the first time, fisheries have moved toward the center of the sustainable development discourse and the high profile of the SDGs may contribute to increased accountability. However, unless rhetoric translates into the political will to set measurable targets and enforce them, the goal alone cannot generate sustainability in capture fisheries.

The influence of income inequality aversion on redistribution in a democratic context

Dooseok Jang,Joel Atkinson 한국재정학회(구 한국재정·공공경제학회) 2018 한국재정학회 학술대회 논문집 Vol.2018 No.-

1. Introduction 2. Model 3. Workers’ Behavior 4. Voters’ Behavior

The influence of socio-economic characteristics on crop choice: Evidence from rural Ethiopia

남상욱,장두석,주영규,Joel Atkinson 연세대학교(미래캠퍼스) 빈곤문제국제개발연구원 2016 地域發展硏究 Vol.25 No.특별호

This paper examines the influence of socio-economic characteristics on major crop choice, using original data collected in 2014 and 2015 in Tigray, Ethiopia. The proxy variables representing social capital in the study area show some significant relationships. The key finding is that household head age, non-farm income, and plot size are negatively associated with crop change decision whereas the period of living in a village and agricultural assets are positively associated with the crop change decision. Also, farm income from changing the major crop in the Millennium Village Project areas is larger than that in the non-project villages, suggesting that appropriate interventions matter. Hence, targeting assistance to aggressively investing households in the form of microfinance or other support may encourage greater smallholder innovation and reduce poverty.

Can Informal Traditional Institutions Mediate Risk Preferences among Smallholder Farmers? - Evidence from Rural Ethiopia -

장두석(Doo Seok Jang),조을 엣킨슨(Joel Atkinson),박기홍(Ki Hong Park) 한국농촌지도학회 2016 농촌지도와 개발 Vol.23 No.2

본 논문은 에티오피아 티그레이의 농촌 마을의 사회적 기구가 소작농의 농업 투자 등 위험에 대한 성향에 미치는 영향을 연구하였다. 연세대학교 빈곤문제연구소는 2014년과 2015년에 에티오피아 북동부에 위치한 티그레이 지역의 두 마을에서 관련 설문자료를 수집하였다. 주요 결론으로서, 지역에서 노동력을 분담하는 기구인 Debo (한국의 품앗이)에 참가하거나 조언 및 도움을 구할 수 있는 조력자가 있을 경우 위험에 적극적인 태도를 보여주었다. 반면, 결혼 및 장례식에 대비하여 보험 역할을 하는 Iddir나 사적금에 해당하는 Equub (한국의 계)에 참여하는 가구의 경우 상대적으로 위험에 적극적인 태도를 보여주지는 않았다. 하나의 정책 제안으로서 빈곤국의 농촌 개발 및 지원시 위험에 적극적인 가구를 선택하여 집중적으로 지원하거나, Debo와 같은 마을내 노동협력 기구를 중심으로 원조·교육 계획을 수립할 필요가 있다. This paper assesses the role of informal institutions in determining risk preference among smallholders in Tigray, Ethiopia. We use data from a household survey conducted by the Institute of Poverty Alleviation and International Development (IPAID). We find that households which participate in Debo, an informal labor-sharing institution, or have a friend from whom they can receive help are less likely to be risk-averse. However, participation in Iddir, a traditional form of insurance, is not significantly associated with risk preference. Hence, the existence of social institutions that provide assistance and social connections through reciprocity may be affording security against risk beyond that brought by more monetary forms of insurance. Given the importance of risk attitude in mediating the adoption of improved agricultural production, a policy suggestion is to provide selected aid to households which are less risk-averse agricultural investors. Also, Debo as a labor-sharing institution may serve as a nexus for managing aid and knowledge sharing.