Contemporary Cambodia is most likely best known for two things, aid dependency and corruption. The thesis initially seeks to examine the nexus between foreign aid and corruption in Cambodia since 1993, the time when a huge influx of foreign aid injected into the country following the withdrawal of UNTAC, then explores if the correlation of the two encourages the propensity of civil war, and ultimately analyzes if the onset of civil war is attainable in the case that the propensity of civil war is feasible. Drawing from the analysis, the thesis concludes that “Foreign aid, particularly loans, indirectly instigates civil war by partly generating corruption, particularly political corruption, because corruption makes aid ineffective in contributing to economic growth and poverty reduction, while encourages huge economic inequality and chronic poverty, which makes Cambodia more vulnerable and prone to civil war”. However, the civil war in Cambodia is manifested or not depends on the motivation and initiative to be resisted and the means of financing the resistant group. Given the status quo of Cambodia, it is possible that the prominent opposition groups such as the opposition political parties can initiate the resistant
movement; but it seems improbable. Concerning the ways of financing the rebel movement, by applying the Collier and Hoeffler Model of Civil War, although the opportunity of recruiting the members of the rebel group, the given natural geography, and the cohesion of the movement seems merely attainable, the way of financing the rebellion, through three fundamental means—extortion from the primary commodities-natural resources, donation from diaspora, and subvention from hostile governments—is unlikely feasible. If motivation and finance were not achievable, the rebel movement could not even be formed. However, sometimes unpredictable things might happen.
Table of Contents
CHAPTER I: Introduction
1. Background, Rationale, and Objectives
2. Structure of the Thesis
CHAPTER II: Research Methodology, Literature Review, and Conceptual Discussion
1. Research Methodology
1.1 Data Collection Method
1.2 Data Analysis Method
2. Literature Review
3. Conceptual Discussion
3.1 Foreign Aid
3.2 Corruption
CHAPTER III: Foreign Aid and Corruption in Cambodia
1. The Overview of Historical Context and Foreign Aid Trends in Cambodia
2. The Political Economy of Foreign Aid and Corruption in Cambodia
CHAPTER IV: Foreign Aid, Corruption, and the Propensity of Civil War in Cambodia
1. Foreign Aid and Corruption in Cambodia: Creating Conditions for Civil War?
2. Greed versus Grievance Theory of Civil War: How Does the Case of Cambodia Fit?
2.1. Extortion of Primary Commodity-Natural Resources
2.2. Donation from Diaspora
2.3. Subvention from Hostile Governments
CHAPTER V: Conclusion
Objective and Thematic Focus
This thesis examines the nexus between foreign aid and corruption in Cambodia since 1993, investigating how this relationship influences the propensity for civil war and whether such a conflict is attainable within the current Cambodian socio-political landscape.
- The link between foreign aid effectiveness, governance, and institutional corruption.
- The application of the Collier and Hoeffler "Greed versus Grievance" model to the Cambodian context.
- The mechanisms of state looting and elite capture of natural resources and foreign capital.
- The structural barriers to peace, including the legacy of the Khmer Rouge and the culture of impunity.
Excerpt from the Book
The Overview of Historical Context and Foreign Aid Trends in Cambodia
Cambodia has been an aid-dependent country for its survival from war to peace since the late 1960s when the Vietnam War spilled over into the country. It is safe to assert like that because since the aftermath of 1953-Cambodia independence up to the end of the 1960s, Cambodia, called Sangkum Reastr Niyum or Popular Socialist Community Movement, depended largely on itself to survive through agricultural cooperatives, state-own enterprises and other development and construction projects. Cambodia, ruled by His Majesty Norodom Sihanouk, declared itself as the island of neutrality and peace, without the involvement with other external affairs, which might perpetuate and fuel conflict in the country.
Unfortunately and alternatively, its neutral and peaceful status could not survive long since a coup d’ etat against head of state Sihanouk led by General Commander Lon Nol with the backing of the US in its war against communism in the Vietnam War succeeded in 1970. During the early 1970s-Lon Nol regime, Cambodia was engulfed in civil war and basically depended upon aid and supports from the US to fight communist factions. Cambodia was just a proxy government to the US, which supported the country for its policy against the Vietnamese communists during the Vietnam War. Military aid was the main aid provided at the time.
Summary of Chapters
CHAPTER I: Introduction: Provides the thesis background, rationale, and specific research objectives concerning the nexus of aid, corruption, and potential civil war.
CHAPTER II: Research Methodology, Literature Review, and Conceptual Discussion: Details the exploratory case study methodology and frames the theoretical discussion around foreign aid and corruption definitions.
CHAPTER III: Foreign Aid and Corruption in Cambodia: Analyzes the history of aid dependency in Cambodia and the political economy behind the misuse of these funds.
CHAPTER IV: Foreign Aid, Corruption, and the Propensity of Civil War in Cambodia: Applies the Greed versus Grievance theory to evaluate the feasibility of rebel mobilization and financing in contemporary Cambodia.
CHAPTER V: Conclusion: Synthesizes research findings and offers recommendations for policy-related stakeholders regarding institutional conditionality.
Keywords
Foreign Aid, Corruption, Cambodia, Civil War, Greed versus Grievance, State Capture, Economic Inequality, Aid Dependency, Political Economy, Institutional Reform, Human Rights, Conflict Prevention, Governance, Elite Capture, Natural Resources.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this thesis?
The thesis focuses on the relationship between foreign aid and corruption in Cambodia and evaluates if this nexus creates conditions that foster a propensity for future civil war.
What are the primary themes discussed?
The work centers on aid dependency, the impact of corruption on economic and governance structures, elite state capture, and the theoretical feasibility of rebel group formation.
What is the main research objective?
The objective is to determine if foreign aid inadvertently promotes corruption, thereby widening economic inequality and increasing the vulnerability of Cambodia to civil conflict.
Which scientific methodology does the author use?
The author employs a qualitative exploratory case study approach, utilizing content analysis of secondary sources, policy reports, and scholarly literature.
What does the main body of the work address?
It addresses the historical trends of aid in Cambodia, the political economy of corruption, and applies the Collier-Hoeffler model to assess the potential for rebellion.
Which keywords best characterize the research?
Key concepts include aid-corruption nexus, political corruption, state capture, economic inequality, and civil war propensity.
How does corruption impact foreign aid in Cambodia specifically?
The author argues that corruption makes foreign aid ineffective at driving growth, instead enabling elite groups to loot state assets, which deepens poverty and creates social grievances.
What is the conclusion regarding the feasibility of civil war?
While theoretical signals for civil war exist (e.g., poverty, inequality), the author concludes that actual rebel mobilization remains improbable due to a lack of necessary financial means and initiative.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Sopheada Phy (Autor:in), 2009, Foreign Aid-Corruption Nexus in Cambodia: Its Consequences on the Propensity of Civil War, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/143264
