With the advent of globalization in the twentieth century, many nations in the recent past have managed to come together than ever before in various social, political and economic spheres. This greater cooperation has further been fostered by the forging of international bodies such as the United Nations (Bealinger 24). The cooperation is seen to emanate majorly from the disparities that exist between the nations. There are as many wealthy nations as there are poor ones prompting extension of aid to the disadvantaged countries. The aid issue has been subject to an age-old debate that has created two strong divergent positions that this paper will seek to analyze.
On various occasions, wealthy nations feel the need to offer aid to less developed countries due to various reasons. These nations extend aid as part of their humanitarian efforts to mitigate effects of natural disasters such as droughts, famines, floods, earthquakes et cetera. This aid is much focused on meeting the immediate needs of the affected countries citizenry (Wang 193). The next form of aid is developmental which focusses on the establishment of infrastructures, governmental frameworks and development programs with the aim of ensuring self-sufficiency of the less wealthy nations. The extension of this aid in my opinion is important and should be sustained.
The first reason for the sustenance of the aid is the presence global economic imbalance which if unchecked has a domino-effect on the greater global community. The disparities, in most cases, have been linked to international vices (Gilbert 90). For instance, due to the poverty levels and lack of proper governance infrastructure, countries such as Somalia have become the breeding grounds for terrorists, pirates, and illegal gun trade. The terrorists hailing from Somalia have been deterrent to the attainment of world peace and establishment of proper global integration. It has affected the development of the neighboring Somali nations such as Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda that are grappling with negative effects of terrorist acts such as drop in economic activities and increased insecurity levels. The piracy, on the other hand, has made international waters near Somali unnavigable for international fleets hampering international trade. Much of the international fleet is forced to change sea routes to avoid encountering the uncouth Somali pirates translating to ineffectiveness on the part of the fleet companies.
Secondly, the extension of aid will empower the less developed nations making them viable markets. By helping these nations, the wealthy nations will be able to create opportunities for its expatriate manpower. It will also foster the purchasing power of the citizenry of the less developed nations which will translate to more trade with much of the wealthy nations’ products finding their way into these markets (Gilbert 88). In short, the aid will bring with it increased production and economic growth on the wealthy nations’ side. For instance, a country like Tanzania due to its strong ties with the United States has managed to grow economically and ultimately becoming one of the top importers of the United States products.
The other plausible reason for the advancement of aid to less developed nations is to enable access to untapped resources. Many poor nations lack the necessary infrastructure, expatriate and policies to make most from their resources. By providing aid in the form of funds and human resource, wealthy nations can manage to help these nations exploit their maximum potential in terms of resources. For instance, oil exploration can help many poor nations unravel oil deposits that can ultimately transform their fortunes. This oil, if discovered can be sold to the wealthy nations at a relatively cheaper rate creating a win-win situation for both nations (Yunker 90). By helping poor nations, the wealthy nations can also tap into the intellectual capabilities of the learned individuals in these nations. The rich nations can offer specialized education aid to a few exemplary individuals who in the future can be integral to research and development efforts. This specialized human resource will be instrumental in the development of various innovations and studies. For instance, the Ebola disease research would do much by incorporating health practitioners from the poor nations that have been ravaged by the disease in the past.
Despite the benefits of the aid trickling down mutually to both parties, there is need for the aid culture to cease. There have been many cases of many nations over relying on aid that pundits concur is dangerous for any nation keen to be identified as a sovereign state. The poor nations should focus on being self-sufficient by establishing policies and long-term frameworks that will see to it that they become developed. Countries such as Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore were once poor but through rational leadership and establishment of effective long-term strategies managed to achieve economic development (Yunker 76). They are now referred to as the four Asian tigers due to their amazing development narrative that many poor nations ought to emulate. Failure to implement these long-term strategies, the advancement of neo-colonialism will take place. The citizenry will only have a perceived sovereignty but in reality still bound to chains of colonialism in the form of aid.
Works Cited
Bealinger, Andrew A. Foreign Aid: Control, Corrupt, Contain?New York: Novinka Books, 2006. Print. New York: Novinka Books, 2006. Print.
Gilbert, Geoffrey. World Poverty: A Reference Handbook. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, 2004. Print.
Wang, Yizhou. Transformation of Foreign Affairs and International Relations in China, 1978-2008. Leiden: Brill, 2011. Print.
Yunker, James A. Common Progress: The Case for a World Economic Equalization Program. Westport: Praeger, 2000. Print.
