Spring 2010 101 Research: US Foreign Aid for Poverty Relief
Contents
Awesome Results of an Awesome Group
Extraneous Articles
The Marshall Plan and oil.
Painter, David S. "The Marshall Plan and oil." Cold War History 9.2 (2009): 159-175. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 29 Mar. 2010, http://proxy.foley.gonzaga.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=39982319&site=ehost-live.
though an article on an older principle, it discusses the origins of modern US foreign aid and what it is used for. the article has some bearing on where aid in today's world is being applied and why the world has become so focused upon the middle east. abstract: The Marshall Plan was the most effective US foreign policy initiative in the post-war period and a turning point in the Cold War. This paper highlights a very important and commonly neglected aspect of the Marshall Plan - the influence of oil. Oil played a key role in the origins, operations, and impact of the Marshall Plan. Marshall Plan aid for oil preserved markets for US oil companies and shaped Western Europe's energy use patterns and its relations with the United States and the oil-producing nations, especially those in the Middle East. In contrast, the Soviet Union was unable to use oil as an instrument of power and influence in this period. Examination of the role of oil in the Marshall Plan provides important insights into the origins of the Cold War and the factors that shaped the post-war world. -Rick
What Exactly Foreign Aid Is
Tarnoff, Curt and Nowels, Larry. "Foreign Aid: An Introductory Overview of U.S. Programs and Policy." CRS Report for Congress. April 15, 2004. Web. <http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/31987.pdf>
This report for Congress does a great job of discussing exactly what foreign aid is. It discusses and defines the five main types of aid, including how much is spent on each. It also talks about how large our country's foreign aid budget actually is and how it compares to other countries. More than half of the US foreign aid money is spent on developmental and economical aid. Unbiased article and written in understandable language. -Nick Romjue
How Much Aid We Give
Anders, Jaroslaw "United States Is Largest Donor of Foreign Aid, Report Says" Government Website. May 24, 2007. Web. <http://www.america.gov/st/foraid-english/2007/May/20070524165115zjsredna0.2997553.html>
This article breaks down the numbers of how much aid the United States gives and reveals that 79% of foreign aid is given through private aid. We are the largest donors in the world in terms of sheer dollar amounts, although not because of the government. It also discusses how private donors use creative methods to put their money to the best possible use. -Nick Romjue
US AID
all of the articles under this heading were submitted by Rick Ruddell
Where U.S. aid works; in Botswana, a little help went a long way.
Boroughs, Don L, and Kevin Whitelaw. "Where U.S. aid works; in Botswana, a little help went a long way." U.S. News & World Report. v120. n18 (May 6, 1996): p52(1). Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. INLAN - Gonzaga University Library. 28 Mar. 2010 <http://find.galegroup.com/ovrc/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T003&prodId=OVRC&docId=A18237570&source=gale&srcprod=OVRC&userGroupName=gonzagaufoley&version=1.0>.
This article is a counter view to the previous mentioned article. it is useful on a point/counter point basis. it is the success story of the nation of botswana. abstract: Botswana's graduation from the US AID program shows that foreign aid can work if it is used to promote democracy and a market economy instead of supporting dictators. Once one of the world's poorest countries, Botswana is thriving under US-trained leaders of business, government and education. -Rick
Aboard the gravy train: in Kazakhstan, the farce that is U.S. foreign aid.
Bivens, Matt. "Aboard the gravy train: in Kazakhstan, the farce that is U.S. foreign aid." Harper's Magazine. v294. n1767 (August 1997): p69(8). Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. INLAN - Gonzaga University Library. 28 Mar. 2010 <http://find.galegroup.com/ovrc/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T003&prodId=OVRC&docId=A19633314&source=gale&srcprod=OVRC&userGroupName=gonzagaufoley&version=1.0>.
This article is important because it discusses the impact of foreign aid provided by the united states to a former soviet republic, kazakstan and the results seen first hand. the key part is that it is in fact first hand. abstract: A man who worked for the US Agency for International Development in Kazakhstan describes the impact of US foreign aid to the former Soviet republic. While agency workers and corporations benefitted, Kazakhstanis derive little benefit. -Rick
The University-USAID Relationship
Lee, Gordon C. "The University-USAID Relationship." Public Administration Review. v29. n3 (May 1969): p276-285. Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/973542
Using his experience as chief of party for a university-based contract team operating under the auspices of the Agency for International Development, the author proposes various points in the USAID-university relationship that appear to require reexamination and reevaluation. This article has value as an impartial source evaluating the higher levels of the agency.
Evaluating U.S. Democracy Promotion in the Balkans
Brown, K. "Evaluating U.S. Democracy Promotion in the Balkans: Ironies, Inconsistencies, and Unexamined Influences." Problems of Post - Communism v56. n3 (2009): p3-15. http://proxy.foley.gonzaga.edu:2048/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1726776921&sid=1&Fmt=2&clientId=10553&RQT=309&VName=PQD
Brown discusses United States Agency for International Development's (USAID's) reforms. The reforms were undertaken in the name of effectiveness, efficiency, and flexibility as well as ideological commitment to privatization, and they did initially accomplish some positive change. However, critics argue that over time, the initial nimbleness delivered by setting up a form of competition among potential implementers was lost. The effect of large sums of government money flowing through the system transformed edgy, creative NGOs into docile, complacent contractors. Yet more analysis the agency with a partiality for the failure of the system. this article does propose some fixes though. It also recognizes the futility of these proposals.
Arrested Development
twood, J. Brian, M. Peter McPherson, and Andrew Natsios. "Arrested Development." Foreign Affairs 87.6 (2008): 123-132. http://proxy.foley.gonzaga.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=34741610&site=ehost-live
In this article the author examines why effective foreign aid programs can and should be a significant aspect of U.S. foreign policy. The author believes that the next U.S. president will have to enact major institutional reforms in order to ensure that taxes are being spent on a single, understandable foreign aid bureaucracy under a single chain of command. Additional topics include the downsizing of the U. S. Agency for International Development (USAID), reconstructing USAID, and devising a U.S. government policy on humanitarian and development programs. Written by former heads of USAID, this article goes about pointing out the flaws and issues within the system but does so by blaming other sources for them.
Reduction of Foreign Aid
A Better Approach to foreign Aid
Muzinich, Justin and Werker, Matt. "A Better Approach to Foreign Aid." Policy Review. Washington. June 2008. Issue 149; page 19, 10 pages. Proquest: Foley Center: <http://proxy.foley.gonzaga.edu:2048/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1505416791&Fmt=3&clientId=10553&RQT=309&VName=PQD>
This article provides a good general education of what foreign aid from the US is like and how it is ineffective with respects to the views of both parties. Provides good recent negative stats. Abstract: Epitomizing the second is the Millennium Challenge Corporation, a government initiative touted by President Bush in his 2007 State of the Union address that distributes a portion of U.S. foreign aid based on the political and economic environment in the recipient country. Yet while government bureaucracies may be notorious for inefficient spending (or worse), American markets reward companies if they use capital efficiently.\n Yes, this is foreign aid TRADITIONAL GOVERNMENT-TO-government aid can be spent by the recipient country on public goods the private sector might not supply, such as medicine for those who cannot afford it and public schools.
-Stuart
Domestic Reasons
Short article filled with fun domestic statistics!
Associated Press."New formula show more live in poverty." The Boston Globe. October 21, 2009. <http://proxy.foley.gonzaga.edu:2048/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1882924541&Fmt=3&clientId=10553&RQT=309&VName=PQD>
Summary: Very short article with about 10 domestic poverty statistics. -Stuart
Public Opinion on Foreign Aid
Public Opinion From Receiving Country
"Why Pakistanis Would Reject $7.5 billion in US Aid" Arnoldy, Ben. "Why Pakistanis would reject $7.5 billion in US aid." The Christian Science Monitor,p. 90. October 14, 2009. <http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=3&did=1879111701&SrchMode=2&sid=2&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1269840574&clientId=10553>
This article is a discussion of why only 15 percent of Pakistanis support accepting the foreign aid offered to them by the US. Barely a quarter of those that were polled think that the aid will help to improve the lives of ordinary people. They also feel that there are too many strings attached to the aid, including "direct access" to Pakistani nationals associated with nuclear proliferation. This seems to point to the fact that Pakistan is an ungrateful nation, but according to Ijaz Shafi Gilani, the Gallup Pakistan pollster, "there's a growing perception that foreign assistance doesn't deliver development." They feel that the $7.5 billion isn't worth what they would have to do to keep it. Nick Romjue
"Local Perceptions of Assistance to Afghanistan" Donini, Antonio. "Local Perceptions of Assistance to Afghanistan." International Peacekeeping (13533312) 14.1 (2007): 158-172. Military & Government Collection. EBSCO. Web. 29 Mar. 2010. <http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=2&hid=107&sid=66b15501-7ee2-4f97-b264-ec4bb5f79764%40sessionmgr113>
This article is based on the survey at 18 focus group meetings held in Kabul, Shomali, Paktia, Wardak and Parwan provinces with close to 200 participants drawn from a variety of socio-economic backgrounds. The goal was to see how local Afghani citizens felt about the United States' foreign aid being extended to them and their country. There were a variety of opinions collected that resulted in a number of important messages. They included: 1. Our great expectations have not been met 2. The aid provided is not in line with our needs 3. Our trust in the government is rapidly eroding 4.Our socio-economic conditions have not improved in the past two years 5. The security situation is deteriorating in large parts of the country and 6. Even if it is not corrupt, as many people feel it is, the international aid effort is mismanaged.
The point of this article is to show the general unhappiness by local citizens with the changes being made through foreign aid. They feel that life has not changed enough and that the aid being given to their country simply bypasses them and does nothing to help or hurt them. They have been disappointed in that the "rewards" they were expecting have not come to fruition. Nick Romjue
Public Opinion From The U.S.
"Domestic public support for foreign aid: Does it matter?" Otter, Mark. "Domestic public support for foreign aid: Does it matter?" Third World Quarterly, 24(1), 115-125. 2003 <http://www.jstor.org/stable/3993633?&Search=yes&term=otter&term=mark&list=hide&searchUri=%2Faction%2FdoAdvancedSearch%3Fq0%3Dmark%2Botter%26f0%3Dau%26c0%3DAND%26q1%3D%26f1%3Dall%26c1%3DAND%26q2%3D%26f2%3Dall%26c2%3DAND%26q3%3D%26f3%3Dall%26wc%3Don%26Search%3DSearch%26sd%3D%26ed%3D%26la%3D%26jo%3D&item=1&ttl=2&returnArticleService=showArticle>
Abstract:There is a paradox as First World governments provide decreasing levels of foreign aid despite apparently high levels of domestic public support for foreign aid. This article examines this issue as a case study in government response to public opinion: do governments in democracies pay any real attention to what the public think? The study's methodology is to compare trends in domestic public support for official foreign aid programmes over time in five selected aid donor countries with trends in foreign aid expenditure as a proportion of Gross National Income. There are mixed results: in some cases aid performance increased or decreased in accordance with public opinion; in other cases performance went against public opinion. The reasons can partly be explained by faulty public opinion polling techniques but there also appears to be a substantial problem for public policy making in democracies. Governments are paying little attention to public opinion, at least in so-called elite policy areas such as foreign aid. Nick Romjue
"Americans On Foreign Aid and World Hunger" "Americans on Foreign Aid and World Hunger. " Executive Summary. PIPA February 2, 2001. <http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/pdf/feb01/ForeignAid_Feb01_rpt.pdf>
This article is the result of polls conducted by the Program on International Policy Attitudes that shows that Americans drastically over-estimate how much foreign aid the US gives to other countries. They aren't in support of it because they feel a huge amount of money is used towards it, but when they are asked how much they think should be put towards foreign aid, they gave numbers much higher than what the US actually gives.
Nick Romjue
"Poll on Foreign Aid Results"
"Dramatic Shift Found in Americans' Views on Foreign Aid." America, Issue 184 Vol 5. Feb 19, 2001<http://find.galegroup.com/ovrc/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T003&prodId=OVRC&docId=A71848471&source=gale&srcprod=OVRC&userGroupName=gonzagaufoley&version=1.0>
This short summary of a poll shows that as of 2001, Americans had shown a drastic change and were fully in support of giving aid to help stop poverty in countries around the world. However, only half of Americans polled supported aid for military and economic purposes.
Nick Romjue
"Increase In US Aid" Adams, David. "U.S. bumps up aid, with strings.(Column)." The St. Petersburg Times (St. Petersburg, FL). March 21, 2002 <http://find.galegroup.com/ovrc/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T004&prodId=OVRC&docId=CJ84074409&source=gale&srcprod=OVRC&userGroupName=gonzagaufoley&version=1.0>.
This article from 2004 discusses the Bush administration's increase of foreign aid by twice as much as initially planned. However, the most important thing that I got out of this article is the fact that it says that the American pubic believes more than 15% of the US budget is spent on foreign aid, when in fact it is less than 1%.
Nick Romjue
Targeted Aid
Reconceptualizing Foreign Aid
Tomohisa Hattori, Review of International Political Economy, Vol. 8, No. 4 (Winter, 2001), pp. 633-660
Published by: Taylor & Francis, Ltd.
This essay analyzes the core definition of foreign aid. The three definitive questions that are answered in this essay are 1) Does it help to build allies in the third world? 2) Does it encourage exports, economic growth and peace? 3) Does it promote poverty and inequality, democracy or a strong state?
Foreign aid is usually considered a gift from a donor country. Historically, foreign aid was more of a form of giving. Whereas, during the Cold War era a new form of motivation to give aid. There is a philosophy that some countries give aid to other countries is a form of symbolic domination. Foreign aid during the Cold War was given in two ways. First, propaganda could be used in order to show the great generosity and power from the larger country. Secondly, aid is given much like a bribe. In return for giving aid a country would perform political favors, or be tied to the aiding country. This article claims that US aid giving is not a bribe but more, "progressive ideals". While foreign aid with the Soviets was given to show domination and mainly in the form of loans, the US gave bonds to 90% of the recipients. The US's was accepted more because it was not a symbol, but the aid was able to, "affectively naturalize it's hierarchy over recipients of the gifts."
Military aid although not directly monetary makes a majority of the US foreign aid. -Jordan
Foreign Aid Hinders African Development
Foreign Aid Hinders African Development. Isaias Afwerki. Opposing Viewpoints: Africa. Ed. William Dudley. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2000.
This aid was turned down because there were so many strings attached. In order for aid to be given the country must meet expectations set by the donor country. Each disbursement would be contingent on Eritrea's success in selling a strict number of public enterprises. There are always countless strings attached to foreign aid packages. Although aid is suppose to help the countries involved through providing financial capital and knowledge needed for a growing country it is falling very short of this ambitious goal.
The only way for aid to effectively work is to have a complete overhaul of the aid system. The issue that must be addressed is the sustainability of aid. This country will gladly accept aid if it helps them, however they cannot accept aid when the donor benefits greatly outweigh the benefits of those being funded. -Jordan
How Foreign Aid can Raise National Budget
Can Repressive Regimes Be Moderated through Foreign Aid? Filip Palda Public Choice, Vol. 77, No. 3 (Nov., 1993), pp. 535-550 Published by: Springer
This article talks about ways that foreign aid can help supply citizens of oppressive countries. It talks about how aiding countries can give food instead of money to ensure that some aid was given to the public. There is a formula presented that calculates how much will go to the royal family the public and the other portion could be used to repress the people. So, although governments may think that they are helping the oppressed people, they could be hurting them. It is said that repression occurs by a dictator so that he can live in great wealth, however he does not enjoy oppressing his people. Therefore, when aid comes to the people he will give some to them as long as his standard of living remains high.
For instance, the US gives aid through different agencies that do not help the dictator. For example they offer military training, food assistance and developmental assistance. This type of aid inversely benefits the country in theory. In sum, national aid will raise the equilibrium supply of national income which will provide more support to the public. However, with this aid, the dictator will also grow stronger and live more lavishly. -Jordan
Africa Needs Investment, Not Aid
Africa Needs Investment, Not Aid. Benjamin Powell. Opposing Viewpoints: Africa. Ed. David M. Haugen. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2008. http://find.galegroup.com/ovrc/retrieve.do?subjectParam=Locale%2528en%252C%252C%2529%253AFQE%253D%2528su%252CNone%252C23%2529foreign%2Baid%252C%2Binvestment%2524&contentSet=GSRC&sort=Relevance&tabID=T010&sgCurrentPosition=0&subjectAction=DISPLAY_SUBJECTS&prodId=OVRC&searchId=R1¤tPosition=1&userGroupName=gonzagaufoley&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&sgHitCountType=None&qrySerId=Locale%28en%2C%2C%29%3AFQE%3D%28ke%2CNone%2C23%29foreign+aid%2C+investment%24&inPS=true&searchType=BasicSearchForm&displaySubject=&docId=EJ3010216272&docType=GSRC
Foreign aid and debt forgiveness fails to promote any type of growth in poor countries, especially Africa. From 1970-2000 42 poor countries borrowed $37 billion from western countries and have had all of that debt forgiven. From 2000 to present, $42 billion more has been borrowed with a likely hood of that debt being forgiven as well. Africa needs to create an environment of greater economic freedom fueled by investment.
"G8 nations can still help, though. Instead of focusing on debt relief and aid, we should reform our domestic policies that harm the third world. The U.S. and E.U. [European Union] both protect our farm sectors from third world competition. Opening our borders to third world farm products would give an immediate boost to the standard of living in many poor countries. Blair and the G8 could do more to help the impoverished people of the world by freely trading with them instead of repeating failed policies of aid and debt forgiveness."
-Jordan
Africa
Targeted Foreign Aid Is Helping Africa. Current Controversies: Aid to Africa. Ed. Debra A. Miller. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2009.
This talks about ways to help Africa. This article argues that in order to have efficient foreign aid that one must not just give recourse to a country, but they must aid them in rebuilding their own economy on micro and macro economic levels. Furthermore, it talks about Green Revolution which helps to provide seeds and fertilizer to countries so that they can create their own viable agricultural industry.
Social Entrepreneurship
ENTREPRENEURIAL RESPONSES TO POVERTY AND SOCIAL CONFLICT: THE ENTERPRISE AFRICA! PROJECT
Peter Boettke
Economic Affairs; Jun2007, Vol. 27 Issue 2, p2-5, 4p http://proxy.foley.gonzaga.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bth&AN=25378479&site=ehost-live
Only Social Entrepreneurship (SE) can help Africa. SE should take over in places where governments do not (Smithian economics). For instance, SE's can provide support in defining property rights, improving technology as well as creating new trading opportunities. Furthermore, SE's can provide solutions to need in demand through providing more products for sale. The more products available, the more jobs that will be created. Africa's greatest recourse is human capital, this will only work if rules are changed.
One way to create a stronger economy is to increase productivity. a) Technological Innovations b) Enhance labor skills c) Improvements in economic and organizational activities
