What Geopolitical Returns Does ODA Bring?

We review the literature on the political economy of foreign aid, examining the geopolitical returns generated by Official Development Assistance (ODA). Our paper identifies conditions under which donors are able to influence political and economic outcomes in recipient coun-tries, shape their behavior in global affairs, and adjust to domestic and international challeng-es. First, we introduce our paper and outline the structure of our review. Second, we examine how the international system influences foreign aid motivations. Third, we discuss the litera-ture on aid-giving practices and their geopolitical effects. Fourth, we explore the relationship between aid and international organizations. Fifth, we identify key challenges to the tradi-tional aid architecture. Sixth, building on an emerging body of research in international de-velopment finance, we propose future directions for the study of ODA in a contested global landscape. Finally, we conclude by summarizing the main insights from our review.