Scholarship has isolated internal economic conditions and political institutions as essential factors in political development and democracy-building, this research suggests that external influences are at play. During times of civil war and post-conflict reconstruction, governmental and socioeconomic structures are likely weak or nonexistent, and thus these internal theories are insufficient. This study suggests, instead, that external mechanisms, such as international aid, are highly influential in the process of political development. While large amounts of funding are directed towards relief and development efforts in conflict and post-conflict areas around the world, scholarship is lacking on the political impact of international aid. This research explores the relationships among US policy, INGOs, and the political attitudes and engagement of people on the local level in southern Sudan. It first considers the different mechanisms through which adults in southern Sudan learn about democracy. Aid experience emerges as a consistent predictor of attitudes towards democracy and human rights, as well as of levels of political engagement. Second, this dissertation considers the intentionality of USAID and INGOs in political development by exploring the explicit goals of USAID policy with regard to democracy and peace-building on the institutional and individual levels. It also studies how INGOs navigate these goals, taking into account how staff members of these organizations conceive of their role politically. Together, these two parts of the dissertation illuminate the interaction between US aid and political development. Ultimately, this project conceptualizes the international system as an active player in political development after conflict. The project sheds light on aid in terms of its influence on political attitudes and engagement, conceiving of the process of giving and receiving aid as a form of informal education. By suggesting that people "learn" from aid organizations, this project spreads the insights of an educational framework across disciplines. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]