From article:
The aid often goes to developing countries that were former U.K. colonies. So some global thinkers say it's a way of staying connected, of atoning for misdeeds during the colonial period, or of influencing politics today. But maybe it's more than that.
"I think the U.K. has always seen itself as very outward-facing and international in outlook," says Owen Barder, vice president of the Center for Global Development Europe, "partly because it's a maritime island nation." He concedes that many citizens don't pay much heed to the U.K.'s commitment to aid, but "many are very proud of Britain's international development program, which is widely regarded as a successful and effective way of projecting Britain's influence and values."
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