Anti-Americanism and foreign aid preferences among political elites: Evidence from Tunisia

Abstract International aid is a key resource for local development, and project implementation is influenced by local political elites. However, we know little about how these elites view aid and whether they are more likely to prefer some funding sources over others. We explore elite attitudes toward aid in Tunisia, arguing that local politicians are less likely to prefer development programs funded by the United States compared to other domestic or foreign sources. Through a conjoint experiment embedded in a survey of local Tunisian politicians, we find a strong aversion to local development projects funded by USAID. Analysis of subgroup effects and comparisons to other international donors suggests the negative reaction is driven by ideological rather than material concerns. This research provides insights into elite perceptions of foreign aid in recipient countries and contributes to our understanding of how anti-Americanism can affect policymaking in the Middle East.