Vivek Chibber, a sociology professor at NYU and editor of Catalyst, dives deep into the role of USAID in U.S. foreign policy. He reveals how the agency, often seen as a humanitarian force, serves as a tool for expanding American influence. Chibber discusses USAID's controversial involvement in Vietnam, the duality of its actions in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the ethical implications of its operations. He advocates for a reevaluation of foreign aid, urging a more humanitarian and multilateral approach to truly serve affected communities.
USAID, while portrayed as a humanitarian agency, often serves U.S. geopolitical interests, intertwining soft and hard power strategies.
The agency's operations have historically prioritized contractor profits over genuine aid, leading to concerns about effectiveness and accountability in humanitarian efforts.
Deep dives
Origins and Objectives of USAID
USAID was established in 1961 under President John Kennedy, aimed at supporting development efforts, particularly in the Global South, with an emphasis on Latin America. The agency sought to promote political stability and economic growth as a means to counter the influence of communism during the Cold War. Although presented as an independent agency, its charter mandated that its activities align closely with American foreign policy objectives. Consequently, USAID was tasked with distributing aid to fulfill these goals, often collaborating with NGOs and private organizations to implement projects ostensibly aimed at infrastructure and health improvements.
Soft Power and Geopolitical Influence
USAID plays a crucial role in extending American influence through soft power, a strategy that allows the U.S. to pursue its geopolitical interests without direct military intervention. Soft power focuses on eliciting voluntary cooperation from other nations rather than coercing them through military might, relying on cultural influence to align local elites with American objectives. However, critics argue that this concept often becomes a façade for interventions that prioritize American interests over genuine humanitarian assistance. In practice, soft power frequently integrates with hard power tactics, leading to manipulative politics and local destabilization.
Historical Involvement in Military Conflicts
USAID has been historically implicated in U.S. military interventions, directly participating in operations that often contradict its proclaimed humanitarian mission. In Vietnam, for example, the agency was involved in rural pacification strategies that forced relocations of villages under the guise of promoting stability, ultimately contributing to significant human suffering. Similarly, in Iraq and Afghanistan, USAID's involvement in reconstruction projects has been criticized for undermining local sovereignty while benefiting U.S. corporate interests. This intertwining of aid with military objectives raises questions about the genuine humanitarian nature of USAID's operations.
Corruption and Structural Challenges
Critics contend that USAID is enmeshed in a contractor system that prioritizes profit over genuine humanitarian work, with a significant portion of its funds awarded to American firms. Many of these contractors have faced allegations of corruption, evidenced by reports that a substantial amount of humanitarian aid never reaches its intended recipients. This raises broader concerns regarding the efficacy of USAID, suggesting that the agency functions more as part of a geopolitical strategy than a true humanitarian organization. To achieve effective humanitarian aid, advocacy for multilateral governance that exists independently from U.S. corporate influence is seen as necessary, aligning domestic democratic principles with foreign policy.
Among the many government agencies facing cuts from President Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency, USAID has garnered wide support in the media. But for whatever humanitarian good it’s done in the world, the agency has played a role in US imperialism.
In this episode of Confronting Capitalism, Vivek Chibber examines the true history of USAID and breaks down the false dichotomy between soft and hard US power.
Confronting Capitalism with Vivek Chibber is produced by Catalyst: A Journal of Theory and Strategy, and published by Jacobin. Music by Zonkey.
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