Foreign Aid

Although foreign aid and intervention has proven to be more complicated than simply bringing in food and supplies, or giving money to  "poor" countries, I do believe it is still essential.

Many Western countries have a history of exploiting these  "poor" countries and have hindered their progress. I believe these western countries are now indebted to the other countries and must work to reverse the damage they have done. Many of the articles we read for this class argue that foreign aid has not been as helpful as it should be, however it seems the problem is not the aid itself, but rather the distribution. Instead of giving local governments money, which has been embezzled from the public into individuals' hands, we, or those giving aid, should invest in education, and improving the economy. Perhaps we can invest in individuals through grants and micro loans in order for them to become educated and empower them to improve their local communities. This ground-up effect may be the catalyst for a sustainable society. As some of the texts pointed out, we should not bring in food from the US, we should support the local farmers which fuels their economy. We should also not bring in condoms from the US to prevent HIV, but rather buy them in Asia where they are cheaper.

If we really wanted to help, we would not be half-assing (excuse my language), our aid. We would also attempt to be more culturally sensitive and not provide meals with pork in Islamic societies. Ideally we should work in teams with people from many backgrounds, with expertise in various fields, and with the locals in order to ensure the best distribution.

Although I do not know much about micro loans, from what I've read, it appears as though they have helped restore the economy and society for many. Especially when the recipient was a woman. This independence has empowered her and when she no longer needs to rely on her husband, she would endure less violence; not to say it has completed ended gender violence. If small donors have been able to impact societies, I do not see why foreign aid should not make more of an impact, if distributed correctly.