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Abstract
This article provides a comprehensive overview of the foreign policy of the Netherlands, with a particular focus on its internationally renowned development cooperation program. It examines the key principles that have traditionally guided Dutch foreign policy, such as a commitment to international law, multilateralism, and human rights. The study analyzes how the Netherlands, as a small, trade-dependent nation, has leveraged these principles to build influence on the global stage. The core of the paper is a detailed assessment of its development cooperation policy. It explores the history and motivations of Dutch aid, its geographical and sectoral focus, and its emphasis on issues like poverty reduction, women's empowerment, and environmental sustainability. The research highlights the significant scale of Dutch aid relative to its GNP, which has consistently been among the highest in the world. The paper concludes that development cooperation is not an adjunct to but a central and defining element of Dutch foreign policy, reflecting a deep-seated national consensus on the importance of global solidarity and social justice.
Full Text
The foreign policy of the Netherlands provides a compelling case study of how a small country can play a significant and principled role in international affairs. This paper offers a detailed examination of Dutch foreign policy, with a special emphasis on its most distinctive feature: development cooperation. The analysis begins by outlining the historical and structural factors that have shaped Dutch foreign policy, including its maritime trading history, its experiences during World War II, and its deep commitment to the European integration project. The study argues that these factors have fostered a strong tradition of internationalism and a belief in a rules-based global order. The second and most extensive part of the paper is a deep dive into the country's development cooperation policy. It details the institutional framework for Dutch aid and analyzes its key thematic priorities. The paper highlights the pioneering role of the Netherlands in championing issues that were not yet mainstream in the development discourse of the time, such as gender equality and environmental protection. It also examines the high level of public and political support for maintaining a generous aid budget, a feature that distinguishes the Netherlands from many other developed nations. The findings suggest that for the Netherlands, development cooperation is not merely an act of charity but a core component of its foreign policy identity, a practical expression of its commitment to building a more just and stable world, and a key instrument of its soft power.