This study extends the debate concerning the feasibility of using foreign
assistance to leverage political reforms in developing countries. This research
combines both quantitative and qualitative methodologies in an effort to
expand on the work done by previous scholars. Conclusions of the empirical
analysis point to the finding that political conditionality is most effective
when close cooperation exists between donors. This coordination, however,
is frequently sabotaged by self-interested donor-patrons, illustrated by the
case of Cameroon and France. This pattern is generalizable and significantly
undermines the overall success rate of a political conditionality approach.