Why Should The United States Keep Providing Aid To Other Nations

Running head: FOREIGN AID

Why Should The United States Keep Providing Aid To Other Nations?

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FOREIGN AID

Introduction

The US donates several billion dollars to many developing nations each year in the form

of foreign aid. The issue of U.S foreign aid has long been a divisive one. Many people on both

sides of the political divide have questioned the value of the aid offered by the United States to

the recipient countries and the United States itself. While those who support U.S foreign aid

argue that it promotes economic and social development and bolsters political stability, its

opponents point that the funds are often misused by the governments of the recipient nations.

Those against the aid further argue that there is inadequate tracking of provisions and the

chances of developing countries becoming dependent on handouts from the United States is also

high. Despite the shortcomings of foreign aid programs, it is more beneficial for the U.S to

continue providing foreign aid than the gains it would realize by cutting off the programs

(Chang, 2018). This paper explores why the United States stands to benefit more by providing

foreign aid to developing nations. It argues that foreign aid supports the social and economic

development of foreign nations and in turn the security interests of the United States. Offering

foreign aid is also good for the American economy because it creates more international markets

for American goods. The paper further argues that when impoverished countries develop, the

world is a much safer place due to the reduction of epidemics such as highly-contagious diseases.

It will also show that providing foreign aid reinforces the legitimacy of the United States as a

world leader.

Why the United States should keep providing aid to other Nations

Foreign aid supports the social and economic development of foreign nations and in turn

the security interests of the United States (Alesina & Dollar, 2000). Research has shown that

many terrorist organizations such as Al-Qaida and the Taliban thrive in failed states. Terrorism

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has been a major source of threat to the national security of the United States. Scarcity of

resources, poor governance and political instability, weak institutions, and the lack of

participation in civil society result in security and leadership vacuums. These vacuums are often

occupied by non-state groupings such as violent gangs and terrorist organizations (Chang, 2018).

Such groups exploit fear, hopelessness, and marginalization sentiments among citizens to thrive.

It is for these reasons that impoverished and politically unstable regions of the world should

receive aid from countries that are well-off. According to a report provided by Friends

Committee on National Legislation, it would be less expensive to support the economic and

social development of impoverished nations and institute measures to enhance political stability

than engage in military interventions to solve security issues in such countries. The United States

has already spent billions of dollars in Iraq and Afghanistan through military intervention to fight

terrorists and improve security in these countries. However, it would have spent less had it not

engaged in military intervention in these countries. The United States has also been spending

billions of dollars to support the economic and social development of Afghanistan. These efforts

have yielded positive results regarding the fight against terrorism in the country. Afghanistan has

become a more secure country over the years due to the aid offered by the U.S government. A

more stable political environment has diminished the role of criminal gangs in the country and

made it difficult for terrorist organizations to thrive. A stable Afghanistan is, therefore, good for

the national security interests of the United States.

Supporting the development of foreign countries creates more international markets for

American goods. It is important to realize that by supporting economic growth and development

in foreign nations, the United States gains the upper hand in relation to trade agreements (Hess,

2018). The U.S can negotiate for better trade deals with these countries and find new markets for

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its goods. The development of impoverished nations also increases the income and purchasing

power of citizens. More money in the pockets of consumers means that America can benefit

more from international trade. Foreign aid can, therefore, directly support the economic growth

of the United States given the importance of international trade to the economic development of

a nation. China, the world’s leading exporter, has gained the support and confidence of many

countries in the developing world by supporting growth and development initiatives in these

countries. In turn, it has found a large market for its products and services. A large international

market ensures that the country benefits from international trade and achieves its own economic

growth objectives.

Poverty increases global epidemics. Impoverished nations lack quality healthcare

facilities. Many citizens also lack access to quality healthcare. U.S foreign aid can be used to

improve the state of the healthcare sector in developing countries and improve access to quality

healthcare for citizens (Owusu, 2007). This would reduce the spread of diseases and infections.

For instance, an outbreak of Ebola or swine flu in a developing nation can reach the United

States due to global travels. The country is, therefore, more exposed to such health challenges

when developing nations do not have better healthcare facilities nor citizens’ access to quality

healthcare. By offering aid to support the economic and social development in impoverished

countries, the United States reduces disease epidemics and ensures its own health and safety. For

instance, during the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa, the United States provided aid in the

form of doctors and medical supplies to help the most affected nations deal with the epidemic.

Apart from genuinely desiring to help the countries deal with the threat posed by the disease, the

United States was also protecting its own interests by reducing the chances of the disease

spreading to the U.S. With better healthcare facilities, the disease is contained faster, and its

FOREIGN AID

spread curtailed. Foreign aid is, therefore, not only meant to support the recipient nations but also

to safeguard American interests. The benefits accrued in this regard may not be explicitly

realized. However, the consequences would be felt when the United States cuts off foreign aid

programs that support growth and development in these countries. America should, therefore,

continue providing foreign aid to protect its own interests.

The United States is always regarded as the moral leader of the free world. It has used its

influence around the world to shape geopolitical policies and continue its role as the symbol of

good governance. American influence abroad is, however, facing new threats from China and a

resurgent Russia. The country must show the world that it is a better international partner by

supporting growth and development initiatives in countries that require aid. By taking this

approach, it will gain more allies on the global stage and continue influencing global politics.

The support that the United States has from other countries has been particularly instrumental in

influencing voting patterns in UN General Assembly (Wang, 1999). Countries that receive aid

from the United States tend to be loyal to the U.S and on many occasions side with it during

voting for critical issues. Foreign aid is, therefore, a means of reinforcing American influence

abroad and cementing the status of the U.S as a world leader. In the long run, the provision of aid

does more to benefit American interests than the countries that receive the aid.

Conclusion

This paper finds that the United States should continue providing foreign aid to

developing nations. The country stands to benefit in various ways from the provision of foreign

aid. Foreign aid supports the social and economic development of foreign nations and in turn the

security interests of the United States. Supporting the development of foreign countries creates

more international markets for American goods. This is because the economic growth and

FOREIGN AID

development that these countries experience increase the purchasing power of consumers and in

turn creates a bigger market for American goods. The study also finds that when impoverished

countries develop, the world is a much safer place due to the reduction of epidemics such as

highly-contagious diseases. By providing foreign aid, the United States gains more international

allies and reinforces its position as a world leader. The resulting influence wielded by the country

can help push its global agenda. In conclusion, the United States stands to benefit more by

providing foreign aid than when it cuts off these programs.

References

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Alesina, A., & Dollar, D. (2000). Who gives foreign aid to whom and why?. Journal of

economic growth, 5(1), 33-63.

Chang, M. (2018). What's the value in helping other countries?. CNN. Retrieved 22 March 2018,

from https://edition.cnn.com/2017/05/20/opinions/value-of-foreign-aid-to-the-us-

chang/index.html

Hess, A. (2018). Bill Gates: Providing aid to other countries is good for the American

economy. CNBC. Retrieved 22 March 2018, from https://www.cnbc.com/2017/07/06/bill-

gates-providing-aid-to-other-countries-is-good-for-the-american-economy.html

Owusu, F. Y. (2007). Post-9/11 US foreign aid, the millennium challenge account, and Africa:

How many birds can one stone kill?. Africa Today, 54(1), 3-26.

Wang, T. Y. (1999). US foreign aid and UN voting: An analysis of important

issues. International Studies Quarterly, 43(1), 199-210.

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