The politics and economics of Britain's foreign aid
Subtitle: the Pergau Dam affair
By: Tim Lankester
Edition: 1st ed.
Publisher: Routledge; Brand: Routledge
Published: 2013
Place of publication: London; New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 194
ISBN-13: 9780415529525; 9780203109588
Subjects: Hydroelectric power plants; Foreign economic relations; British Economic assistance; Economic development projects; Case studies
Description: The Pergau dam in Malaysia was the most controversial project in the history of British aid. Because of its high cost, it was a poor candidate for aid funding. It was provided in part to honour a highly irregular promise of civil aid in connection with a major arms deal. After two parliamentary inquiries and intense media coverage, in a landmark judgement the aid for Pergau was declared unlawful. Tim Lankester offers a detailed case study of this major aid project and of government decision-making in Britain and Malaysia. Exposing the roles played by key politicians and other stakeholders on both sides, he analyses the background to the aid/arms linkage, and the reasons why the British and Malaysian governments were so committed to the project, before exploring the response of Britain's Parliament, and its media and NGOs, and the resultant legal case. The main causes of the Pergau debacle are carefully drawn out, from conflicting policy agendas within the British government to the power of the business lobby and the inability of Parliament to provide any serious challenge. Finally, Lankester asks whether, given what was known at the time and what we know now, he and his colleagues in Britain's aid ministry were correct in their objections to the project. Pergau is still talked about as a prime example of how not to do aid. Tim Lankester, a key figure in the affair, is perfectly placed to provide the definitive account. At a time when aid budgets are under particular scrutiny, it provides a cautionary tale.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Introduction; title: British overseas aid; title: The Pergau Hydroelectric scheme; title: Politicians and bureaucrats; title: Dr Mahathir and the politics of Malaysia; title: Arms and aid entangled; title: Mrs Thatcher's offer; title: ODA entrapped; title: Crunch time in Whitehall; title: Parliament steps in; title: Legal challenge; title: The media and trouble with Malaysia; title: ODA objections: right or wrong?; title: A fairish nightmare.