Discuss the role of foreign intervention in creating political problems in many third world countries
Ever since the Structural Adjustment Program was initiated, many strategic plans have been put down on paper to improve the state of social, economic, political, and environmental affairs in third world countries. The central object of the United Nations is to create a sustainable program that will improve the lives of humanity across the globe but particularly in developing countries. One of the chief objectives of the strategic plans and objectives is to eradicate poverty in developing third-world countries to enhance sustainability. However, third world countries from South America, Asia, and Africa have continued to languish in poverty, causing political instability in these countries (Conteh-Morgan, 2001). Ironically, the perceived remedies to these problems are the root causes of these problems. Through the provision of foreign aid, foreign intervention is a crucial contributor to the issues faced in third-world countries. The brutal reality is that foreign aid has failed terribly in addressing social, political, environmental, and economic problems in developing countries. Literature conducted by intellectuals on foreign assistance to developing countries shows that scholars are often conscious of foreign aid’s unpleasant effect (Park, 2019). The story behind this aid is a sad one. It only presents how billions are splashed by the international community in developing countries to foster development and economic stability only to end up more miserable than before. This paper shows how remedy to problems in developing countries has turned out to be the leading cause of political instability and economic turmoil in third world countries.
The aid provided to the developing countries by the international community is meant to complete developmental projects in these countries. Usually, the assistance comes from former colonial masters of that particular country or allies affiliated to the developing countries. The aid is generally classified according to the needs that it satisfies. These needs include social needs, environment protection needs, food security, and education, among others. Despite this foreign intervention, most developing countries are still synonymous with poverty and underdevelopment. Why has foreign intervention failed to alleviate poverty in third world countries? The aid is usually short term (Niyonkuru, 2016). This does not give developing countries time to strategize and foster development effectively. Thus, the lack of proper planning leads to incomplete projects that the individual states cannot fund on their own. Secondly, the monetary aid given to these countries’ leadership is not well utilized. The money ends up in the pockets of greedy political practitioners, leaving the states struggling to pay debts that were never helped the citizens in these countries.
Foreign aid intervention is inversely related to development in third world countries. Several factors lead to the underdevelopment witnessed in developing countries. These factors include over-dependence on foreign aid, making leaders in third world countries continue borrowing monetary help recklessly without clear goals and objectives. Secondly is the wrong economic management in third world countries by political leaders, and lastly, corruption in political leadership has retarded economic growth and stability in developing countries. Again, the volatile nature of foreign aid is a challenge for political leadership in third world countries.
In most cases, political leaders in developing countries fail to control foreign countries’ amount of aid. This makes the leaders initiate projects that they are unable to complete. In other cases, late disbursement of monetary assistance leads to the lateness in planning for developmental projects, which leads to misappropriation and mismanagement of these funds before they accomplish the intended purpose.
Foreign aid is usually directed to the governments. Governments are controlled by a few rulers who represent millions of citizens. In most cases, international donors are not concerned with how the money is allocated in developmental projects. They do not monitor whether the funds have been effectively allocated to the productive projects that will aid economic development. As a result, the primary beneficiaries of this aid are the elite class and not the country as a whole. The situation would have been different if donors were to concentrate on improving the productive consumption avenues such as the development of schools to improve education, offering security to private property, improving rural infrastructure, and reducing trade risks (Murshed & Khanaum, 2012). If these critical aspects are not considered, then foreign aid will continue to fail significantly in third world countries. Directing funds to rulers and a few elites only escalate citizens’ suffering as they are not concerned with investing in viable developmental projects.
The large literature on foreign aid shows little progress in third world countries. To effectuate the international assistance, donors should involve all stakeholders in planning and strategizing the developmental agenda in these countries so that money is well allocated and put into tangible use to keep it away from the pockets of a few political individuals.
Conteh-Morgan, E. (2001). International intervention: Conflict, economic dislocation, and the hegemonic role of dominant actors. International Journal of Peace Studies, 33-52. https://www.gmu.edu/programs/icar/ijps/vol6_2/Conteh-Morgan.htm
Murshed, M., & Khanaum, M. M. (2012). Impact of foreign aid in the economic development of the recipient country. Journal of the Bangladesh Association of Young Researchers, 33-37. file:///F:/downloads/20539-Article%20Text-73643-1-10-20140925.pdf
Niyonkuru, F. (2016). Failure of foreign aid in developing countries: A quest for alternatives. Business and Economics Journal, 7(3), 1-9. https://www.hilarispublisher.com/open-access/failure-of-foreign-aid-in-developing-countries-a-quest-for-alternatives-2151-6219-1000231.pdf
Park JD. (2019) Assessing the Role of Foreign Aid, Donors, and Recipients. In: Re-Inventing Africa’s Development. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-03946-2_2