CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2024
| Author | Landheer, Shannon |
|---|---|
| Title | Politicization of US Foreign Aid: Case Study of the Global Gag Rule in Uganda and South Africa |
| Summary | This thesis examines the impact of the Trump administration’s 2017 Global Gag Rule (GGR) in Uganda and South Africa. The GGR is a US policy that restricts funding to NGOs that provide or promote abortion-related services, which has operational, political, and health outcomes in recipient countries. This thesis analyzes the effects of the GGR within the distinct legal and political contexts of abortion in Uganda, where abortion is largely illegal, and South Africa, where abortion is legal but not universally accessible. Using a comparative case study approach, the research draws on existing literature and reports, supplemented by interviews with NGO representatives in the two countries. The findings suggest that the GGR had significant impacts on NGO operations, advocacy, partnerships, and the delivery of services, including legal abortion, contraception, and HIV/AIDS services, ultimately leading to an increased demand for illegal and unsafe abortions in both countries, especially in rural areas. The effects of the GGR even spilled over into the political and social spheres, emboldening opposition to abortion and influencing education curricula. This thesis contributes to the growing research on the negative impacts of the US policy and the harms of politically motivated foreign assistance. The results underscore the urgent need for foreign aid policies that prioritize global health and human rights over partisan political agendas. |
| Supervisor | Evelyn Huebscher |
| Department | Public Policy MA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2024/landheer_shannon.pdf |
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