Jacobin Radio cover image

Jacobin Radio

Confronting Capitalism: Don’t Cry for USAID

Feb 26, 2025
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.
37:53

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • 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.

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode