In the final episode of Global Aid Rethink, hosts Ivica Petrikova (Associate Professor in Politics and International Relations, Royal Holloway, University of London) and Melita Lazell (Associate Professor in Political Economy and Development at the University of Portsmouth) engage in a comprehensive discussion on the future of aid.

With global aid funding at its lowest in decades and the Sustainable Development Goals significantly off-track, this concluding episode synthesises insights from across the series, reflecting on the profound shifts in the global aid landscape. It examines the implications of recent aid cuts in the UK and US, the evolving geopolitical context, and the challenges of rebuilding the moral and political case for international assistance.

Joining Ivica and Melita for this concluding conversation is Dr. Jack Taggart, a researcher in critical approaches to international political economy, the politics of international development, and the dynamics of global governance, based at Queen's University Belfast. They explore the historical precedents for aid retrenchment and revival, the rise of national self-interest and financialisation in aid agendas, and the potential for a more fragmented, unilateral future for aid provision. The discussion also addresses the barriers to implementing more effective, recipient-owned development approaches and the crucial need for improved public communication regarding aid's impact and purpose.

Global Aid Rethink publishes fortnightly, on Tuesdays, from 22nd April 2025 to 1st July.  

• Read the transcript here

This is a Research Podcasts production.

Episode credits:

Presenters: Ivica Petrikova, Royal Holloway, University of London and Melita Lazell, Portsmouth University

Guests: Jack Taggart

Producer: Catherine McDonald, Research Podcasts

Music: MFCC via Pixabay

Artwork and Audiograms: Krissie Brighty-Glover and Lauren White, Research Podcasts

This podcast was generously funded by the ESRC-funded Royal Holloway Social Science Impact Accelerator

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the fifth episode of Global Aid Rethink, hosts Ivica Petrikova (Associate Professor in Politics and International Relations, Royal Holloway, University of London) and Melita Lazell (Associate Professor in Political Economy and Development at the University of Portsmouth) explore the tangible realities of aid in practice.

With global aid funding at its lowest in decades and the Sustainable Development Goals significantly off-track, this episode moves beyond theoretical discussions to explore the on-the-ground impact of development projects and the challenges faced by practitioners. It examines the immediate and long-term consequences of recent aid cuts, the complexities of localisation, and the effectiveness of various donor approaches.

Joining Ivica and Melita for this discussion are Tamsin Bradley, Professor in Development Studies at the University of Portsmouth, and Olusola Adeyemo, African Lead in Sustainable Farming, Distribution and Extension at AGRA. Drawing on their extensive experience, they share insights into how aid projects are implemented, the barriers to achieving sustainable impact, and the unintended side effects that can arise. The conversation also addresses priorities for future funding amidst reduced Official Development Assistance (ODA) budgets, advocating for a focus on systems, education, youth, and local innovation.

Global Aid Rethink publishes fortnightly, on Tuesdays, from 22nd April 2025 to 1st July.  

• Read the transcript here

This is a Research Podcasts production.

Episode credits:

Presenters: Ivica Petrikova, Royal Holloway, University of London and Melita Lazell, Portsmouth University

Guests: Tamsin Bradley and Olusola Adeyemo

Producer: Catherine McDonald, Research Podcasts

Music: MFCC via Pixabay

Artwork and Audiograms: Krissie Brighty-Glover and Lauren White, Research Podcasts

This podcast was generously funded by the ESRC-funded Royal Holloway Social Science Impact Accelerator

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the fourth episode of Global Aid Rethink, hosts Ivica Petrikova (Associate Professor in Politics and International Relations, Royal Holloway, University of London) and Melita Lazell (Associate Professor in Political Economy and Development at the University of Portsmouth) turn their attention to a critical and often overlooked dimension of international assistance: aid as extraction.

As global aid funding remains at its lowest in decades and the Sustainable Development Goals continue to be significantly off-track, this episode interrogates the increasing financialisation of aid. It explores whether the growing reliance on private sector tools, markets, and financial logic in delivering international development assistance leads to a process where capital or resources are extracted from communities in the Global South, rather than genuinely fostering sustainable development.

Joining Ivica and Melita for this in-depth discussion is Professor Emma Mawdsley, Head of the Department of Geography at the University of Cambridge and an expert in the politics of global development. They delve into real-world examples of financialised aid, examining the role of development finance institutions like British International Investment (BII), and questioning whether this trend prioritises profit generation over the needs of the most vulnerable. The conversation also addresses the lack of transparency, the concentration of investments in middle-income countries, and the broader implications of aid being subordinated to geopolitical logics.

Global Aid Rethink publishes fortnightly, on Tuesdays, from 22nd April 2025 to 1st July.  

• Read the transcript here

This is a Research Podcasts production.

Episode credits:

Presenters: Ivica Petrikova, Royal Holloway, University of London and Melita Lazell, Portsmouth University

Guests: Professor Emma Mawdsley

Producer: Catherine McDonald, Research Podcasts

Music: MFCC via Pixabay

Artwork and Audiograms: Krissie Brighty-Glover and Lauren White, Research Podcasts

This podcast was generously funded by the ESRC-funded Royal Holloway Social Science Impact Accelerator

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the third episode of Global Aid Rethink, hosts Ivica Petrikova (Associate Professor in Politics and International Relations, Royal Holloway, University of London) and Melita Lazell (Associate Professor in Political Economy and Development at the University of Portsmouth) delve into one of the most contentious aspects of international assistance: aid as neocolonialism.

With global aid funding at its lowest in decades and the Sustainable Development Goals significantly off-track, the podcast continues its exploration of challenging questions surrounding the global aid landscape. This episode critically examines how contemporary development aid systems and institutions can perpetuate forms of control and dependency reminiscent of colonial eras, even in the absence of direct rule.

Joining Ivica and Melita for this incisive discussion are Professor Sophia Price, Head of the School of Social Sciences at Birkbeck, University of London, and Aude Darnal, Research Analyst and Project Manager at the Stimson Center and Founder of the Global South in the World Order project. They explore the historical context of neocolonialism, dissecting how issues like conditionality, the marginalisation of local actors, and the "aid industrial complex" maintain existing power imbalances. The conversation also addresses the potential for resistance and decolonisation within the aid system, questioning whether a truly decolonised aid is achievable amidst current global shifts.

Global Aid Rethink publishes fortnightly, on Tuesdays, from 22nd April 2025 to 1st July.  

• Read the transcript here

This is a Research Podcasts production.

Episode credits:

Presenters: Ivica Petrikova, Royal Holloway, University of London and Melita Lazell, Portsmouth University

Guests: Professor Sophia Price and Aude Darnal

Producer: Catherine McDonald, Research Podcasts

Music: MFCC via Pixabay

Artwork and Audiograms: Krissie Brighty-Glover and Lauren White, Research Podcasts

This podcast was generously funded by the ESRC-funded Royal Holloway Social Science Impact Accelerator

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the second episode of Global Aid Rethink, hosts Ivica Petrikova (Associate Professor in Politics and International Relations, Royal Holloway, University of London) and Melita Lazell (Associate Professor in Political Economy and Development at the University of Portsmouth) lead a crucial discussion on the complex concept of aid as soft power.

As global aid funding reaches historic lows and the Sustainable Development Goals face significant setbacks, the role and motivations behind international assistance are under intense scrutiny. This episode delves into how aid is increasingly deployed not merely for humanitarian or developmental purposes, but also as a strategic tool to exert influence and achieve foreign policy objectives.

Joining Ivica and Melita to unpack this intricate dynamic are Stephen Brown, Professor at the School of Political Studies at the University of Ottawa (also affiliated with the School of International Development and Global Studies), and Rose Worden, a Senior Analyst and Public Affairs and Policy Advisor. They explore the distinctions between soft and hard power, examining the ways in which aid can be used to persuade rather than coerce, and the implications for recipient nations and the broader global aid landscape.

Global Aid Rethink publishes fortnightly, on Tuesdays, from 22nd April 2025 to 1st July.  

• Read the transcript here

This is a Research Podcasts production.

Episode credits:

Presenters: Ivica Petrikova, Royal Holloway, University of London and Melita Lazell, Portsmouth University

Guests: Professor Stephen Brown and Rose Worden

Producer: Catherine McDonald, Research Podcasts

Music: MFCC via Pixabay

Artwork and Audiograms: Krissie Brighty-Glover and Lauren White, Research Podcasts

This podcast was generously funded by the ESRC-funded Royal Holloway Social Science Impact Accelerator

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the inaugural episode of Global Aid Rethink, hosts Ivica Petrikova (Associate Professor in Politics and International Relations, Royal Holloway, University of London) and Melita Lazell (Associate Professor in Political Economy and Development, University of Portsmouth) confront the profound implications of recent aid cuts announced in the UK and the US in Spring 2025.

With funding for development aid at its lowest in decades and the Sustainable Development Goals significantly off-track, the question of aid's future has never been more pressing or divisive. This episode delves into the immediate consequences of these cuts, exploring their impact on humanitarian efforts, multilateral institutions, and the evolving landscape of foreign policy objectives.

Joining Ivica and Melita for this vital discussion are two leading voices in the field: Helen Stawski, Head of Policy at Oxfam GB, and Tamsyn Barton, former Chief Commissioner at the Independent Commission for Aid Impact, who also serves on the Boards of the Institute for Development Studies and the Centre for Global Development. Together, they dissect whether these developments truly signal a fundamental shift in global aid, examining the roles of non-traditional donors, the impact on local ecosystems, and the imperative for global solidarity and mutual resilience.

Global Aid Rethink publishes fortnightly, on Tuesdays, from 22nd April 2025 to 1st July.  

• Read the transcript here

This is a Research Podcasts production.

Episode credits:

Presenters: Ivica Petrikova, Royal Holloway, University of London and Melita Lazell, Portsmouth University

Guests: Helen Stawski and Tamsyn Barton

Producer: Catherine McDonald, Research Podcasts

Music: MFCC via Pixabay

Artwork and Audiograms: Krissie Brighty-Glover and Lauren White, Research Podcasts

This podcast was generously funded by the ESRC-funded Royal Holloway Social Science Impact Accelerator

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Global Aid Rethink aims to rethink the current global aid landscape; politically, historically and ideologically.  With funding for development aid at its lowest for decades and the sustainable development goals related to aid significantly off-track, the question of whether we should give aid at all remains divisive as ever – and this podcast is not afraid to ask the difficult questions. 

Hosted by Ivica Petrikova, an Associate Professor in Politics and International Relations at Royal Holloway, University of London, and Melita Lazell, Associate Professor in Political Economy and Development at the University of Portsmouth, delivers in-depth conversations with policymakers, practitioners and academics.

Key themes up for discussion in the series include recent developments in the UK and US, aid as soft power, as neocolonialism, as extraction and in practice.

Global Aid Rethink publishes fortnightly, on Tuesdays, from 22nd April 2025 to 1st July.  

• Read the transcript here

This is a Research Podcasts production.

This podcast was generously funded by the ESRC-funded Royal Holloway Social Science Impact Accelerator

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.