Foreign Aid is Used for Illegal Activities
explanatory Essay
2115 words
Foreign aid is a type of funding that helps support many countries in great need. Other names for this term are foreign assistance, financial aid, and overseas aid. There are many ways a country can receive aid. One way would be a country giving money to the recipient country. This is the most known form of aid, but the other forms of aid can include tents, food, and weapons.
When foreign aid is used on illegal activities, it not only affects one country’s economy. A country does not merely just have a lack of aid coming into a certain sector. The effect is much greater and powerful. When viewing through an economist’s eyes, it becomes much clearer how illegal activities affect the economic growth of the entire world. Even though taking money for an illegal activity seems small, there is a consequence, whether positive or negative, for it. “A pebble tossed from a beach can become a tsunami on the other side of the world.” -Continuum
Foreign Aid: What is it?
Foreign aid, also known as international and overseas aid, is a transfer of resources from one country to another. Major reasons for giving aid are to promote humanitarianism and altruism. Some reasons a country may provide foreign aid are strengthening a military ally, rewarding a country for a certain behavior, or even influencing their culture upon other foreign countries. One great reason is that countries want to cease foreign illegal activity because they have been affected by it before or they do not want to be affected by it in the future.
Aid is generally given by individuals, private organizations, or governments. Surprisingly, foreign aid from America is usually donated by organizations that are not tied to the government. A specific transfer that fits in...
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In this essay, the author
- Explains that foreign aid is a type of funding that helps support many countries in great need.
- Explains that foreign aid is a transfer of resources from one country to another. major reasons for giving aid are to promote humanitarianism.
- Explains that the u.s. is the least generous in distributing foreign aid, despite being a percentage economy.
- Explains that mexicans are smuggling illegal goods into the u.s. due to macroeconomic conditions in mexico and changes in the us border policy.
- Explains that illegal immigrants come to america for freedom and to make money off of selling illegal products and escaping from the government. illegal immigrants take available jobs away to those who legally deserve them.
- Explains that humanitarian aid is given to a high population of people who live their day-to-day lives in poverty.
- Opines that the recipients of foreign aid misuse and abuse it. sometimes aid fails to reach where it was intended to go.
- Explains that aid has a positive or negative impact on the world, but there are different views on if foreign aid actually promotes economic growth or not.
- Opines that foreign aid is negatively affected by illegal activities, since it takes money before it gets to where the donor wished it to go.
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- U.S. Foreign Aid: Its History and Implicationsanalytical essayEvery year, the United States of America spends 37.68 billion dollars on foreign aid, more than any other country gives (Escobar 10). Why does the U.S. spend so much on foreign aid, and is it a good thing? This paper looks at the U.S.’s policies on spending money on development abroad, and explores whether it is successfully helps underdeveloped countries or not. Even though the USA and other Western countries give a lot of money to underdeveloped countries, they have ulterior motives; thus foreign aid is not a totally good thing and it can even be a bad thing. The U.S. promotes development abroad in two ways: with official donations of money through USAID (United States Agency for International Development), the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the United Nations; and through non-governmental organizations (NGOs) (6). The U.S. gives about 1% of its budget to foreign aid (6). This figure also includes military aid. Out of all the countries receiving aid, Egypt and Israel receive the most (this is because the U.S. has strategic and military interests in those areas) (Pawson 112). The USAID website states: “U.S. foreign assistance has always had the twofold purpose of furthering America’s foreign policy interests in expanding democracy and free markets while improving the lives of the citizens of the developing world” (112). Additionally, 80% of the money USAID gives goes to American NGOs and companies (112). The goal of the development aid industry is to make America seem like a good country that is doing good things. However, it is also part of America’s imperial foreign policy.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the u.s. spends 37.68 billion dollars on foreign aid each year, more than any other country.
- Explains that the u.s. first started giving international aid after world war ii to increase its influence around the world.
- Explains that the west gave aid in the 1980s but required other conditions, like structural adjustment programs. these programs had bad effects in latin america.
- Explains that as more conditions were attached to aid, the role of donor institutions and ngos increased. the challenges of dependency were exacerbated by structural adjustment as increasing numbers of technical advisors and consultants were brought in to provide oversight to the restructured programs.
- Explains that the marshall plan was successful in europe because those countries already had functioning governments, schools, companies, and hospitals to use the money in.
- Explains that after the cold war, the u.s. stopped giving foreign aid because it was not fighting against communism anymore. the aid industry started up again when celebrity philanthropists like bono and bill gates became popular.
- Explains that jeffery sachs believes that the u.s. and the western world need to give a lot more than they have been.
- Analyzes how sachs disagrees with the zambian economist dambisa moyo's book, dead aid, which argues against development aid in africa.
- Explains that in an aid-dependent environment, the talented become unprincipled and are drawn from productive work towards nefarious activities that undermine the country's growth prospects.
- Analyzes how william easterly criticizes sachs' views, arguing that foreign aid can only work if small aid programs are perfected and made bigger.
- Argues that development and foreign aid should be done at all. the u.s. donates large amounts of its own grain to underdeveloped countries.
- Concludes that the u.s. gives money to underdeveloped countries, but this is not as beneficial as it might seem. development programs, such as food aid, often do more harm than good in the countries they are supposed to be helping.
- Cites easterly, william, and escobar, arturo. encountering development: the making and unmaking of the third world.
- Explains mclaughlin, jane kitchel, and moyo, dambisa. dead aid: why aid isn't working and how there's a better wayfor africa.
1703 wordsRead More - What Foreign Aid Isexplanatory essayWhat Foreign Aid Is There are two words that many politicians like to shy away from, and those two words are, "foreign aid. " Taking a firm stand on either side of this topic is usually side stepped by decision makers. Their opinions are usually based on a case by case analysis. This extremely controversial topic involves whether or not to support the policy of foreign aid to needy or sometimes not so needy countries. What benefits does foreign aid have for the countries that receive it, and does it have any benefits for the countries who give?
In this essay, the author
- Describes the two words, "foreign aid" and taking a firm stand on either side of this topic.
- Describes the reasons for supporting foreign aid to needy or not-so-needy people.
- Asks if it has any benefits for the countries who give?
- Explains that those who argue in favor of foreign aid say that it is an investment in the country.
- Explains that foreign aid to countries can help in many ways.
- Opines that foreign aid may be as important as the u.s. who are giving it.
- Explains that the u.s. supplied mexico with a loan in order to save the falling value.
- Explains that deflation of the mexican peso means a loss of jobs.
- Opines that some people would still be against this type of aid, and their argument would be the same.
- Explains that aid not only helps the country in need, but it also pumps money into the us.
- Explains that the u.s. has over 800 million budgeted for aid to russia and other former soviet states.
- Explains that the u.s. spends more money on military foreign aid.
- Explains that the u.s. usually has more than one type of foreign aid.
- Describes countries such as lybia, lebanon, iraq, and iran.
- Explains that the leader of iraq, decided to use scud missiles against israel who had no part.
- Explains how the gulf war turned out to be crucial.
- Explains how the us tried to help a country full of starving people who were dying because of hunger.
- Explains that the decision to bring in us forces was made for fear of being killed.
- Opines that the us was not wanted in somalia, and it seemed as if they were.
- Opines that foreign aid is most likely a right or wrong by each individual.
- Opines that foreign aid is blown out of proportion by the media.
- Opines that if the u.s. wants to keep russia on the right track, it must give them aid to feed their people.
- States that the u.s. uses foreign aid as a tool to end the cold war.
- Explains that the us has a foothold in the middle east by preserving israel as an ally.
- Analyzes how the sheer size and strength of its economy and military might has to watch over the rest of the world in order to keep balance and peace.
1739 wordsRead More - Foreign Aid Essayanalytical essayForeign aid is financial help given by a country to another for purposes of economic stabilization, poverty and living standard. This essay will elaborate an issue that it is necessary to spend money on foreign aid. There are three premises supporting the main conclusion, the first reason is that aid saves lives, while the premises that aid improves education and aid reduces poverty rate both can be objected and rebuttal are also given. Furthermore, there are also two objection given which can be rebutted.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that foreign aid is financial help given by a country to another for purposes of economic stabilization, poverty, and living standard. there are three premises supporting the main conclusion.
- Argues that foreign aid should be spent because it "saves lives" and researches show that vaccines and health aid reduces the number of children who die from pneumonia and diarrhoea.
- Argues that foreign aid should be spent because it improves the quantity and quality of education in ways of learning environment and data.
- Argues that foreign aid is needed for the economic growth of third world countries.
- Argues that foreign aid is inefficient, prodigal, and wasteful because of the mismanagement of funds and embezzlement, which imposes pressure on government decision makers.
- Concludes that we should spend money on foreign aid because it saves lives, although aid are sometimes inefficient to improve standard level of education and eliminate poverty rates, but aids are necessary for the government to work on those issues.
631 wordsRead More - The United States continues to give around $550 billion in aid to other countries each year, making America the world's top donor by far (Richardson). While the United States government only supplies $252 billion to needy Americans each year. Former Assistant to the President for Communications, Patrick Buchanan said, "The idea that we should send endless streams of tax dollars all over the world, while our own country sinks slowly in an ocean of debt is, well, ludicrous" (Foreign Aid). The United States need to give money to support the domestic impoverished rather than supporting developing foreign countries because the poverty and homelessness in America is increasing faster than the aid necessary to reduce this trend. Part of the reason that the United States should aid the domestic impoverished is that some foreign countries cannot be trusted with the money given to them and in certain cases, the money intended to aid countries are harmful for that country’s well-being.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that the united states should give money to support the domestic impoverished rather than supporting developing foreign countries because the poverty in america is increasing faster than the aid necessary to reduce this trend.
- Explains that america has the highest overall and childhood poverty rate of any major industrialized country on earth.
- Explains that the underemployment rate in the united states is fifteen percent, and the unemployment rate is ten percent. the worsening economy and rising unemployment numbers emphasize the reasons why homelessness continues to increase.
- Opines that the united states should have realized that money cannot always be trusted in the hands of foreign countries.
- Explains that the u.s. has a positive impact on the world through foreign aid.
- Opines that decreasing poverty in the united states is not the complicated problem people make it out to be. the government is preoccupied with their worldwide reputation.
- Explains carlson, darren. why you should consider canceling your shortterm mission trips comments.
1409 wordsRead More - In conclusion, if only there was a way to prevent the misuse of funds by finding ways to control the use of money, increase support at the United Nations for US policies, and distribute aid according to need, then the increase of foreign aid would be acceptable. However, until that point, any increase in foreign aid is nothing more than a waste of money into the hands of the corrupt and a method to destroy the countries in which money is flowing into.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that it is not the duty of the developed north to completely take care of every developing country.
- Analyzes how james p. grant's article favors the increase of foreign aid to the developing south, stating that poverty in this world is a large problem that has continued to rise.
- Opines that the purpose of a nation is to look after its citizens to ensure that they are free from harm, stay healthy, receive public utilities, and become educated.
- Explains that the editors of the economist believe the north should not increase aid to the developing south on account of past misuse, unfair distribution of aid among countries, and lack of results.
- Analyzes how the agency for international development (aid) believes that foreign aid influences recipients' actions and helps gain support for the donor's interests worldwide.
- Analyzes the flaws in the assistance effort that need to be addressed before any future increase in spending occurs.
- Opines that the key to reforming agencies like aid is finding a way to control the direction of monetary aid once lent to the government.
- Opines that the clinton administration believed that assistance prevented social collapse. however, it was not worth the millions of dollars to interfere in the conflict in rwanda and somalia.
- Argues that aid is not distributed based on need, but rather on wealth, which implies that foreign investors care more about their personal gain than for the betterment of the lives of those they govern.
- Concludes that if there was a way to prevent the misuse of funds by finding ways to control the use of money, increase support at the united nations for us policies, and distribute aid according to need, foreign aid would be acceptable.
1500 wordsRead More - Foreign Aid Essayanalytical essay...obally, it is done in a extremely strategic manner, which not only assists in promoting better living standards and policies, which make recipient nations more accountable and transparent, but it dramatically increases national security by ensuring that countries adopt policies, which are beneficial to the U.S. but it also creates allies and in instances strengthens allies in turbulent regions. Foreign aid continues to be one of the most important elements of U.S. foreign policy just as it was as far back as the conclusion of the Second World War and as current as our concentrated efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. So the next time someone dismisses foreign aid as being something unnecessary and irrelevant to our benefit and foreign policy, consider that without it the U.S. wouldn’t have many allies and could possibly not be anywhere near the superpower it is today.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that foreign aid, defined by merriam-webster dictionary, is crucial to u.s. foreign policy.
- Explains that the nation itself does not make the decision but the leader does. the u.s. would attempt to purchase an anti-communist stance from s2.
- Explains the marshall plan, which was a massive foreign aid effort launched by the united states after wwii.
- Analyzes how the u.s. subverted a communist-leaning government in 1953 to unseat mohammed mossadeq, and in 1954, with the eisenhower administration in power, the premier was replaced with general fazollah zahedi.
- Analyzes how the dramatic increase in foreign aid to guatemala in the years after the installation of the new government shows once again that american foreign assistance comes in exchange for policy concessions.
- Explains that the terrorist attacks of september 11th, 2001, on new york city set the background for a u.s. led invasion into afghanistan and iraq.
- Explains that the united states state department's official goals are to "build and sustain a more democratic, secure, and prosperous world for the benefit of the american people and the international community."
- Concludes that u.s. foreign policy today may seem too centered around national security. foreign aid is one of the most important elements of its policy as it was as far back as the second world war.
- Argues that the u.s. isn't buying friends, but helping them open the roads of enterprise and opportunity for their own people.
2108 wordsRead More - The Cons of U.S. Foreign Aidopinionated essayThe Cons of U.S. Foreign Aid As time progresses humankind seeks to better itself. We strive to make life easier, faster, and more efficient. Currently we have telescopes that can see objects light years away, satellites that can track you around the planet, cars that adjust the seat and steering wheel to separate drivers, and computers that fit in your hand and perform a million calculations a second. But not everyone in this world has this technology. In parts of the world there are people who are still advancing, they are hundreds of years behind the technological leaders of this world.
In this essay, the author
- Argues that u.s. foreign aid is a bad thing because it hurts their economies, creates over-population, and we spend money that could be used closer to home.
- Opines that united states aid hurts third world countries because it blankets them in security and their economic problems remain hidden.
- Explains that foreign aid hurts the aided country because of over-population. the land can only support so many people and their technology does not allow for surplus.
- Argues that the government should stop sending supplies and money to third world countries if they want to get out of their deficit, create jobs, and help the poor.
- Opines that americans feel compassion for poverty-stricken people and want to raise the living status of "less-fortunate" people to a level similar to their own.
- Explains that sending money to foreign countries for aid also helps setup small makeshift hospitals to help people stricken by diseases that normally wouldn't be fatal in the united states.
- Opines that the united states should aid other countries because it has surplus of food in the country.
- Opines that americans are compassionate but don't feel sorry enough to give food to starving people in their own country. overpopulation is the biggest problem in third world countries.
- Explains that eliminating diseases within third world countries has its downsides. without those factors in the ecosystem population has skyrocketed.
- Opines that the surplus of food in this country would be more helpful in eliminating hunger in our country.
- Opines that united states aid is not a good thing because it causes overpopulation, hurts foreign economies, and spends money that could be used closer to home.
1260 wordsRead More - Acting as the World's Police Force is Bankrupting Americaanalytical essayRichardson, Clare. "U.S. Foreign Aid By Country." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 30 Aug. 2012. Web. 10 Feb. 2014.
In this essay, the author
- Argues that the united states needs to lower its military spending and refrain from getting involved in senseless wars.
- Opines that the united states military has taken a more international role and is not right for america to dictate what goes on in other countries.
- Explains that the u.s. is involved in a colossal amount of wars, and financing each of them is by no means cheap expenditure.
- Explains that the 11-year war in afghanistan was the longest war the united states has ever been involved in.
- Argues that the united states is obligated to protect other nations by not acting as "the world police".
- Explains that the war in iraq weakened the united states in many ways, besides increasing our national debt enormously.
- Cites gillespie, nick, and meredith bragg's "hit & run blog." the center for american progress action fund.
2021 wordsRead More - Overview of the Marshall Planexplanatory essayShah, Anup. "Foreign Aid for Development Assistance." Global Issues. N.p., 8 Apr. 2012. Web. 12 Jan. 2014.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that america has always been known as being one of the first countries to step in to help or fix a problem. the marshall plan is another example of imperialism in the guise of help.
- Explains that the aftermath of world war ii in europe was tremendous; millions of people died and thousands left homeless, hungry, and unemployed.
- Imagines a world without institutions. there are no governments, schools, universities, access to information, banks, shops, law and order, weapons roam the streets, and women prostitute themselves for food and protection.
- Explains that europe needed help and assistance to get back on their feet. other countries were limited in their ability to render assistance due to their involvement in the war and the physical devastation as a result of war.
- Explains that the marshall plan, also known as the european recovery program or era, began in april 1948 and lasted for three years.
- Explains that the united states would provide over 12 billion dollars to aid european countries, which would be well over $100 billion today due to inflation.
- Opines that it would be hard to imagine what europe would have been if they hadn't received help from the marshall plan. by 1951, industrial production in western europe had risen 40 percent above the prewar level.
- Explains that america has been the top country in giving foreign aid for many years, with $38 billion in economic assistance and $15 billion of military assistance adding up to $53 billion.
- Explains that usaid was created in 1961 by president john f. kennedy. its mission is to shape and sustain a peaceful, prosperous, just, and democratic world.
- Describes how the u.s. aids another country after the devastating category five typhoon haiyan struck the philippines.
- Opines that the marshall plan, along with many other examples of the united states giving help and humanitarian aid, shows that it truly cares about the condition and welfare of other countries and their people.
- Cites brookings's role in the marshall plan. the american magazine, mar.-apr. 2008.
- Describes the key accomplishments of the u.s. agency for international development. the marshall plan for rebuilding western europe was published by constitutional rights foundation.
- States shah, anup, and staff, cnn. "typhoon haiyan death toll tops 6,000 in the philippines."
1205 wordsRead More - Introduction: The Heritage Foundation is conservative think tank that does research and analysis of several policy issues in order to market their findings to policymakers in the Legislative and Executive branch, as well as the media and the academic community. On August 4, 2009, the Heritage Foundation published an analysis of the US foreign aid policy called Foreign Aid: Congress Should Shift USAID Funds to the Millennium Challenge Account.
In this essay, the author
- Explains the heritage foundation is a conservative think tank that does research and analysis of policy issues to market their findings to policymakers in the legislative and executive branch, as well as the media and academic community.
- Describes the flaws and weaknesses of the traditional aid model as implemented by the u.s. agency for international development (usaid) and proposes that all us foreign aid policy be implemented following the millennium challenge corporation approach.
- Analyzes how the heritage foundation sees usaid's approach to foreign aid as ineffective, fragmented, and without accountability system as a waste of taxpayers' money.
- Concludes that the heritage foundation's policy analysis doesn't include evidence to back up the problem as they have identified it.
- Analyzes how the policy analysis proposes an alternative to usaid's approach to development aid. the article fails to show the evidence that the mcc approach and trade agreements are effective and efficient to promote growth.
- Explains that usaid's approach to development aid is ineffective and costly, and establishes two criteria that are desirable on any policy: effectiveness and efficiency.
- Analyzes how the mcc uses objective indicators to determine which countries will receive funding as a measure of effectiveness, but fails to acknowledge the criticism.
- Concludes that the article doesn't follow the policy analysis process developed by the literature and therefore the outcome is disappointing. the think tank's mission is to promote conservative policies.
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