As part of its programme on State, Politics and Power, the International Centre for Ethnic Studies plans to run a civil society-donor dialogue on issues of foreign aid, state reforms and peace. A discussion of socio-economic and political phenomena in contemporary Sri Lanka cannot avoid the issue of foreign aid. The effects of foreign aid have impacted and permeated all levels of state and society. Nonetheless, aside from its treatment in relation to development and empowerment, and on conflict perpetuation/prevention, the wider ramifications of foreign aid in a Sri Lankan context remain under-researched. This lack exists despite a strong body of international scholarship on the perceived benefits and ills of the aid-development nexus, and its effect on conflict resolution.
A central feature of the dialogue will be discussion forums that provide a space for lively but informed discussion on issues relating to foreign aid, state reforms and peace. The first such forum was held on June 26, 2007, and featured a discussion around a new publication by Sunil Bastian on The Politics of Foreign Aid in Sri Lanka: Promoting markets and supporting peace. Mr. Bastian briefly addressed the central contentions of his text, beginning with an overview of the changing role of foreign aid in Sri Lanka, particularly focusing on the impact of the 1977 liberalisation agenda of the UNP government and how this provided the unchanging rationale for donor intervention in Sri Lanka. He briefly related the shift in donor perceptions of conflict globally, from one that addressed conflict issues as separate from developmental aid to one that gradually built in conflict sensitivity in varying degrees. He also emphasised the overwhelming importance of aid from the World Bank, the ADB and Japan in comparison to other more conflict-sensitive bilateral donors. Leading on from this, Mr. Bastian concluded with some observations on the role of foreign aid in the post-2002 peace negotiations, demonstrating the ineffectiveness of aid as a peace-promoting tool.
A rich engagement followed, centring on the role of aid in the present political context and on conflict sensitivity. The forum was well attended by around thirty individuals from across the civil society and donor community. The next forum will be held in late September. |
