The effects of international aid on authoritarian regimes - Williams (2026)

This policy brief, part of a collection of policy papers on "the authoritarian ecosystem" published by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, captures three ways in which aid programmes can impact authoritarian rule, in terms of resources (e.g. cash), structures (e.g. roads) and ideas (e.g. promotion of authoritarian norms). 

It makes 5 policy recommendations:

1. Avoid high-risk forms of aid. Budget support and support to the security sector in authoritarian regimes are particularly likely to entrench regimes. Donors should generally avoid these forms of aid.
2. Carefully consider resource distribution practices, support reformers and avoid increasing regime patronage. Donors and NGOs should seek to ensure that resources are under the control of reformers (inside or outside the state) and that they avoid being integrated into wider regime patronage networks.
3. Where constructing infrastructure, minimise risks of entrenching regimes at the design stage. Donors should be aware of the risks of supporting regimes politically through infrastructure, for example where projects are located in a regime’s political base. In some cases this should prevent projects from going ahead, or modifications should be made to mitigate risks.
4. Carefully calibrate communications to avoid legitimating regimes. Communications – including day-to-day interactions with local populations – should emphasise support for democracy and avoid creating the impression that development partners condone authoritarian practices
5. Monitor programmes’ consequences for regimes during implementation, adapt, and evaluate. Drawing on this brief, development practitioners should identify potential consequences of programmes for regimes during implementation and also incorporate these into evaluations. Programmes should be adapted quickly where adverse consequences are found.