The Changing Nature of the Swedish Aid Relationship During the Social Democratic Period of Government

Abstract

Barnes, I. R. The Changing Nature of the Swedish Aid Relationship During the Social Democratic Period of Government. Cooperation and Conflict, XV, 1980, 141-150.

This article analyses the changing nature of Sweden's aid relationship with Third World countries during the Social Democratic period of government. It is shown that, contrary to the reformist argument, Social Democratic ideology has been radicalized with an impact on policy-making and that ideological beliefs about equality actually found their way into aid policy. The article uses a case study which discusses this radicalization process between 1960 and 1972 by analysing Social Democratic party debates in party journals, daily newspapers and party conferences. It is demonstrated how an evolving ideology was manifest in the Swedish aid relationship with an increasingly politicized content to Swedish aid policy.