Ngaire Woods' article, "The Shifting Politics of Foreign Aid", discusses how foreign aid has a become more about security then altruistic reasons. The author argues that the United States gives a lot of aid because of new security imperatives. So, foreign aid is a form of protection for the United States.
I found this article very interesting given president Trump's new cuts in the foreign aid budget but an increase in the military's budget. If the president wants to increase the country's security, shouldn't he want to continue with giving foreign aid? It seems interesting that there would be such a huge increase in the military but cuts in another place that also improves our security.
Another student in the class also wrote about the presidents proposed foreign aid budget cuts. That blog post focused on the altruistic reasons why people are upset about the cuts. However, a decrease in aid may also be affecting the country's security. We should want to help countries that need it to increase their stability. By giving aid the United States could be helping stop future security problems. The president could avoid future militant interventions.
This administration has put a great deal of focus on security. They continued to signal this by increasing the budget of the military. Decreasing aid sends a different signal. Using Woods' argument, the administration should at least want to continue with the aid it gives. Helping other countries may be in our best interest.
Should the U.S. continue with aid for security reasons? What signals is the country giving by decreasing aid? Will an increased military make up for security lost to cuts in foreign aid?
I completely agree with your argument that the US should continue to want to increase their giving of aid to other countries. In light of the recent news on Syria though, it seems like the Trump administration is less concerned about foreign aid as protection and instead increasing the military as a form of protection. This is entirely not surprising because of the rhetoric Trump has been using throughout his presidential campaign. Although His administration seems to be focused on keeping America secure at all cost, I do not think aid for security is the way they will go about it.
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