Growing Rates of Foreign Aid in MDCs

Hello all - Ryan here! This post will look at the growing tendency and intensity of MDCs' foreign aid, and how such aid may place one country's interest before that of another. One of the hallmarks of developed nations' foreign policy includes a large sum of their budget being allocated to international development, where the purpose of such may only act to increase influence in an area. It is important to realize the constancy and intent of this sector of foreign policy, and the implications it holds on LDCs and their attempts towards economic autonomy.

In watching the recent State of the Union, I saw President Trump discuss at length the international relationship between the United States and Mexico, and wondered what other means of global communication our country has offered this past year. I found that the president this summer held back on limiting the US Agency for International Development's (USAID) 2019 budget despite calls from officials to do so (and rather increased the budget by 4%). This budget, consisting of $39.3 billion, is allocated for the purpose of, among others, "[creating] markets for U.S. exports and opportunities for U.S. investors." The deliberate intent of American market growth questions the accountability of foreign aid to make its main purpose that of benefitting its recipient, and implies that other foreign aid projects may also overlook this seemingly basic goal.

It should be known, then, that the intent of these projects from any nation could hold the interests of more dominant states first, with little sign of diminishing influence. The question, then, if the intensity of foreign aid shows no signs of decreasing, is how this aid can be amicably used to provide assistance to a country while also benefitting a domestically. As delegates, it is clearly evident one should follow country policy of maintaining some profit from international aid, while also ensuring that others are given this aid with little setback or dependency. You should look to find a balanced solution to the many examples of this issue, and realize that a delicate equilibrium exists in the intent and effect of these projects.

To learn more about this intent of international aid, use this example from USAID's Budget Analysis for 2019 found here:
https://www.usaid.gov/results-and-data/budget-spending

And, if you have not done so, I highly recommend watching the president's 2019 State of the Union, found here:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/sotu/