THE RATIONALE BEHIND FOREIGN AID

Even though the flow of foreign aid has increased, poverty is still spreading in certain recipient countries. This research is an investigation on the rationale behind Japanese Official Development Assistance (ODA) to Morocco. Regardless of the fact that Japan is the second largest donor to Morocco, the overall image about the history of Japanese assistance is negative and characterized by economic self-interest. I argue that Japanese government has pursued and still does pursue aid relations with developing countries seeking political and economic benefits for Japan, benefits for others are a secondary concern. Based on this research, the maritime resource of Morocco is the main motive driving Japan to allocate aid. This project will contribute to future research on similar topics.