Official Development Assistance: From Recipient to Donor Number One

Abstract

Economic assistance, known as Official Development Assistance (ODA), was probably the most consistent and effective tool of postwar Japanese foreign policy. Japan's ODA can be analysed in four periods of its development since WWII, postwar reconstruction and reparations (1945-1963), expansion of economic assistance (1964-1976), programmed expansion (1977-1988) and a top donor (1989-to the present). In 1964 Japan's ODA reached $100 million. In the following decade that amount grew about 10 times and reached $1.1 billion in 1976. It was a period of quantitative and qualitative development. Powerful economic development through the 1960's was an important factor.Keywords: donor; Japan; Official Development Assistance (ODA)