Whose and what aid securitisation? An analysis of EU aid narratives and flows

Abstract

There is a growing perception that arguments favouring security are gaining ground in the aid narrative and that aid allocation is changing accordingly. This work explores the extent and features of such shifts in the particular case of the EU.We observe the evolution of development paradigms (social development, sustainable development, and security) and aid motives (solidarity, common interests, and self-interest) in the aid discourse. This is done by means of content analysis of strategic aid documents of a selection of European donors (the EU institutions, the Netherlands, the UK, Germany, France, Sweden and Spain). We then explore the eventual shift in the aid budgets of those same donors.In line with previous work on EU aid securitization, we find evidence of securitization in both narratives and aid flows. However, such trend is far from homogeneous, showing the complexity and diversity within the Union. There is practically no evidence of securitization in the EU institutions, Spain and Sweden. We find mixed evidence for the Netherlands, Germany and France (where narratives and flow changes towards securitization do not necessarily match) and, finally, a significant shift in the UK, where aid narratives and aid flows have been significantly securitized.

Aid Securitisation: An analysis of Australian and New Zealand Aid Discourses, Allocations, and Institutions

“…Instead of merely coding references to a security paradigm, I have added references to the social and sustainable development paradigms to compare the weight (number of times coded) between each of the three paradigms. This approach is in line with previous research on aid securitisation (Olivié & Pérez, 2021). I also utilise aid data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to analyse aid allocation over the context of this research.…”

“…This literature has focused on this trend towards the 'securitisation' of aid is seen in Western governments and international aid agencies aid strategies that reflect new security concerns post-Cold War, such as: strategic conflict-affected countries; the fight against terrorism, particularly after 9/11; and migrants and refugees escaping war-torn countries (Olivié & Pérez, 2021).…”

“…Increasing references to these security concerns, among others, in the aid discourses of donor countries are signs that aid is becoming more securitised (Brown & Grävingholt, 2016). Aid securitisation may also be found in aid allocation and institutional structures of aid agencies (Brown & Grävingholt, 2016;Olivié & Pérez, 2021).…”

“…While some consider a single donor, others identify general patterns across donor countries or in the overall aid system. Olivié and Pérez (2021) examine the evolution of development paradigms and aid motives in the aid discourses and aid budgets of European donors; while utilising Securitisation theory as an analytical framework to investigate whether European donors' (the European Union institutions, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Sweden, and Spain) aid has undergone a securitisation process. Olivié and Pérez (2021) find no evidence of securitisation in the European Union institutions, Spain, or Sweden, but find mixed evidence for the Netherlands, Germany, and…”

“…Copenhagen School. As a result of groundbreaking publications by Barry Buzan, Ole Waever, and Jaap de Wilde, a large body of research has been devoted to the theoretical and empirical examination of how some political domains (including aid), unconnected to security concerns, become 'securitised' (Olivié & Pérez, 2021).…”