Education Aid & National Interest: A Study of British and American National Security and Education Aid Strategies 2010 – 2015

The adaptation of the Millennium Development Goals and Education for All targets in 2000 highlighted the importance of education in development efforts. Simultaneously, foreign aid has been increasingly securitized in the aftermath of the 9/11 terror attacks, raising concerns over the distribution of aid and the purpose of aid programs. This thesis adds to the securitization of foreign aid literature by examining the influence of national interest in the United Kingdom’s and United States’ education aid. The research is guided by a theoretical framework that combines the insights from Structural Realism, Neoliberalism, and Social Constructivism theories, conducting a mixed method analysis of the British and American education and national security strategies to identify their main motivations, and if their education aid efforts are based on national interest or altruism. The analysis of the four key policy documents, education aid documents, and interviews with government aid agency employees demonstrates an inherent connection between education aid and national interest.