Foreign Aid and Security : A Renewed Debate?

Abstract

During the cold war, and especially during the Vietnam period, the foreign aid and security operated in close proximity, at times intersecting. To comprehend the role aid plays in overall US national security policy, it is important to first be aware of its components: bilateral development aid; economic assistance supporting US political and security goals; humanitarian aid; multilateral economic contributions; and military aid and assistance. After september 2011, foreign aid became a key weapon in fighting what President Bush called the global war on terrorism. President Bush also changed the criterion for awarding economic assistance by instituting the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA). Under the MCA, development assistance is targeted toward lower-income and middle-income countries with a proven record of embracing policies that lead to stronger growth. The Bush administration also developed new management systems at home and in the field. It established a new office in the Department of State, the office of the coordinator for reconstruction and stabilization.