Paper short abstract:

This paper seeks to link Russia’s Soviet-era aid with its current donor persona across the artificial gulf of the immediate post-Soviet era, exploring ways that Russia’s Cold War-era experience with foreign aid influences its post-Soviet international development assistance program.

Paper long abstract:

Russia's recent phase as a recipient of post-Cold-War aid has led to rapid (perhaps willful) amnesia by outside observers regarding its past involvement as a foreign aid donor. Although Russia has been actively developing its overseas aid program since the early 2000s, many remain skeptical, if not ignorant, of Russia's capacities as an aid donor, and Russia is often cast as a newly 'emerging' donor. On the other hand, a coherent vision of its overseas aid program has yet to become evident in Russia. To what extent does Russia's Cold War-era experience with foreign aid influence its post-Soviet international development assistance program? This paper seeks to link Russia's Soviet-era aid with its current donor persona across the artificial gulf of the immediate post-Soviet era.