About the lecture

In this lecture, we think about the emergence of modern global aid from the mid-twentieth century, focusing in particular on: (i) Harry S. Truman’s 1949 inaugural address and its role in the establishment of the modern aid system; (ii) the emergence of a hierarchy of nations between developed donors and developing recipients, and the impact of this idea on the way global aid is structured; (iii) Truman’s motivations for promoting overseas aid, including its role in the projection of US power and the fight against Communism.

About the lecturer

Dr Nilima Gulrajani is a Senior Research Fellow at the Overseas Development Institute. She has written very widely on international development assistance, and her expertise includes the management and governance of aid assistance, aid effectiveness, and principled aid.