Categories
Uncategorized

Week 9 Readings and Discussion Q’s!

Paul Collier et al.

Read through the article as best you can without getting bogged down with the statistical and economic references. However, please try to observe his methodology for quantifying patterns in post-conflict recovery and focus on the research findings.

Q’s

  • Collier argues that the end of a war creates a temporary phase in which aid is particularly effective. Do you think post conflict societies are an exception to arguments against the ineffectiveness official development assistance (ODA)?
  • What is the role or place of foreign aid in the context of the countries we have looked at so far? How does it actually contribute to post-conflict reconstruction?

Anna Ohanyan

Ohanyan gives us a detailed, inside look into the complexities and realities of “transnational administrations” and network creation. Take note of the policy implications and her conclusions.

Q’s

  • “The conflict-ridden nature of transnational networks illustrates their ad hoc development.” Will there ever be a way to transcend these conflicts given the unstable nature of post-conflict societies?
  • Compare the advantages and disadvantages of microcredit initiatives vs. ODA policies in Bosnia and other post-conflict societies.
Categories
Uncategorized

Aid to civil war countries

Hey guys!
Earlier this morning i was going to share this reading i had from one of my classes that i thought it’d be interesting and relevant but then i had to rush to attend Dambisa Moyo’s talk and it was really cool that it was around the same lines as the article i was going to post.
So the paper is called “Aiding Conflict: The Unintended Consequences of US Food Aid on Civil War” by Nunn & Qian, 2010. I am sure you can access it on google scholar or on the UBC library website. The study examines the relationship between US food aid, namely Food for Peace Program (which was about 20% of total US foreign aid during 1976-2004), and foreign conflict.
The results from this study showed that an increase amount of food aid actually extended conflict in civil war countries because of corrupt leaders and government abusing the program. Rather than distributing food, they were actually selling food to make revenues to use towards the military instead. So basically, showed the adverse effects of food aid.
Of course, one of the shortcomings of this study is that it didn’t take into account the cost benefit analysis, but even so, Dambisa Moyo argued the same thing today and in her book of course, and in her talk she specifically said “aid fuels civil war” mainly because the African leaders are not held accountable. It was interesting because she brought up President Kagame’s economic approach of not accepting any international aid, and how it seems like a good approach that he is taking.
I know a few of us were lucky to make it and i hope the rest of you did too. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this, either here or in class… : )

Spam prevention powered by Akismet