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A Comparative Study of Palestine after 1948 and China during the Anti-Japanese War (1937-1945) During my research project at IIAS, I explored the mutual influence between international assistance and domestic politics by comparing the situation in Palestine after 1948 to China during the Anti-Japanese War (1937-1945). My goal is to contribute to a deepened understanding of the nature, operation mechanisms and practical results of international political, economic and military aid. It will also help the recipient countries/areas to receive more and the right kind of assistance: the kind that aids their own development and maximizes effects. International assistance is one of the important aspects of international relations. In the history of Asia, many countries/areas have accepted short-term or long term international assistance because of war, unrest, poverty, or other reasons. In many cases, the provided international assistance had significant effects on the political system of the recipient countries/areas, their government functioning, the existing power structures and power relations, and even on the basic social values and societal development paths. In some cases, these effects were even so powerful that they changed the political structure and tradition of the recipients. In other cases, the international assistance was loaded with the national interests of the donor countries or institutions, and conflicted with the political interests of the recipients. On the other hand, the domestic politics of the recipient itself could also influence the nature and amount of international assistance given and the ways in which it was delivered. These effects in their turn were sometimes so powerful that it led donors to terminate their assistance, or even, in the case of a war situation, to redirect assistance to the other side of the conflict. There are both similarities and differences between Palestine after 1948 and China during the Anti-Japanese War (1937-1945). The similarities are, among others: (a) they both fought for the survival of the nation and national sovereignty under very difficult circumstances; (b) they both needed, and accepted, international assistance; (c) in both cases different political factions existed; (d) in both cases the interaction between international assistance and domestic politics was significant. The differences are, among others: (a) China is a big country while Palestine is a small area without an established state; (b) China experienced a large scale war within a period of eight years while Palestine has experienced many conflicts of different sizes, over a long period of time; (c) the international assistance they accepted in various manners differed in nature and quantity; (d) there were differences in the ways in which and the extent to which domestic politics affected international assistance. My stay with IIAS was a great opportunity to meet and interact with scholars from different countries, cultures and research backgrounds who presented different approaches to similar research questions, which enriched my own study. IIAS provided a stimulating platform for discussion, connecting with peers and enlarging my professional network. I very much enjoyed the comfortable atmosphere and appreciated the kind and open-minded staff. （IIAS《The Newsletter》No.63，Spring 2013） (责任编辑：admin) |