Research

Publications

Peer Reviewed

Ijaz, Syeda ShahBano. (2026). “Moral Hazard or State Capacity? U.S. Military Assistance and Political Violence in Pakistan.” Journal of Conflict Resolution, 70(2–3): 330-358.

Adida, Claire; Cottiero, Christina; Falabella, Leonardo; Gotti, Isabelle; Ijaz, ShahBano; Phillips, Gregoire; and Michael Seese. (2022). “Taking the Cloth: How Religious Appeals Increase Compliance with COVID-19 Prevention Measures.” Journal of Experimental Political Science 1-10.

Editor Reviewed

Ijaz, Syeda ShahBano. (2023). “Determining Development: The Impact of White Feminism on Women of Color.” Southwestern Journal of International Law, XXIX(2): 257–266.

Book Project

Accessing the Last Mile: How Foreign Aid Restructures Local Politics in Pakistan

Abstract : Accessing the Last Mile presents an empirically rigorous account of foreign aid and local politics in developing democracies. Through a mixed-methods approach combining administrative data and survey research, it shows how aid incentivizes marginalized citizens to demand access from local politicians, who respond by providing facilitative services. The project draws on nearly three years of fieldwork with Pakistan’s foreign-aid-funded Benazir Income Support Program, including a survey experiment with 2,800 potential beneficiaries and interviews with 26 local councilors. In 2027, I will conduct a lab-in-the-field experiment with development bureaucrats in Pakistan to examine how AI shapes eligibility decisions for foreign aid recipients. As foreign aid suffers a setback following USAID’s shuttering, this project highlights how aid can give citizens a basis for demanding state services, creating forms of political exchange otherwise unavailable to citizens excluded from public-goods provision.

Under Review

“Do Citizens Care about Public Program Funding? Not During a Public Health Crisis.” Revised & Resubmited at International Interactions.

“Foreign Aid, Trust in Government and Compliance with COVID-19 Prevention Measures: Evidence from Pakistan.” Under review and Awarded UCSD South Asia Initiative Best Graduate Student Paper, 2022.

Working Papers

Accessing the Last-Mile: Evidence on Aid and Accountability from Pakistan
Working paper available on request.

Foreign Aid and Voter Preferences: Experimental Evidence from Pakistan
Working paper available on request.

Colonial Shadows and Development Assistance: Public Perceptions of Foreign Aid from Former Colonial Powers with Michael Huang and Crispin Beyogle.<br. Working paper available on request.

Foreign Aid and Institutions in Pakistan with Sarah Thompson.
Pre-Analysis Plan available on request.

Immigrants Care Differently: Foreign Policy Preferences and the New Dynamics of Polarization in the U.S. with Naima Green-Riley.
Pre-Analysis Plan available on request.

Other Publications

Media

“What would persuade South Asians to get vaccinated against Covid-19?” Monkey Cage, The Washington Post (2021). Available here

“Do foreign funded aid programmes encourage women to increase their political participation?” DAWN, Pakistan (2018). Available here

Policy

“Post-Conflict Recovery and PeaceBuilding.” Background Paper, World Development Report (2011). With Anke Hoeffler (Oxford University) and Sarah von Billerbeck (Reading University). Available here

“ODA in Conflict-Affected States: Can it assist economic growth?” Social Science Policy Bulletin (2011). Available here