As much as I wish we didn't cut any USAID funding (although I am thoroughly jaded having worked in the "development industry", understanding that it's more than generosity and goodwill, it's a soft diplomatic method of exerting US influence and power, serving as a leverage point, as in "do our bidding or we will cut your funds"), I hope what you hope for happens. Dependencies in some ways are a necessary evil output of centuries of extraction and exploitation by the west. An intermediary step would be interdependency. I know nothing of how that would work, but hope that those who do know can make something happen for the good if the continent.
Great piece. Aid cuts will no doubt create immense short-term pain for millions, but you're correct when you label them as a turning point. Africa has always been overly reliant on foreign investment and aid which has undermined the sovereignty of the majority of countries on the continent. It's a tragedy that this pattern has continued into the 21st century, and now Trump and his cronies are the ones making the wake-up call. Rough times are ahead, but hopefully a brighter future can come of it.
Very well-written. As much as I find Trump's approach and demeanor disheartening, I am, like you, hoping some short-term shock therapy will turn out to be good for a stronger Africa in the long run.
I think this is a lesson that (Western) Europe is also currently learning about its own security. I'd love to hear a deep dive from you on that topic as well.
Post World War II America, for all its faults, has done an incredible service to the world in maintaining the Long Peace. It has become so ubiquitous that I think most of the world had become blind to how incredible it is. It feels like peace and stable global trade "just happens", much like HIV aid arriving consistently.
In 1945 it made perfect sense for the US to take over security responsibility for a devastated Europe in the face of the USSR threat. But it's been 80 years, the Cold War is over, and it still feels expected that the US has 40 military bases in Europe and patrols the North Sea for European protection. (Just imagine if these roles were reversed).
I thought Polish PM Donald Tusk summarized it nicely: “500 million Europeans begging 300 million Americans to defend them from 140 million Russians. If you can count, count on yourself. Not in isolation, but with full awareness of your potential. Today, in Europe, we do not lack economic strength, people, but the belief that we are a global power.”
It's not that these thoughts are new, ever since Obama the US has asked European NATO members to spend more on their militaries. Trump just seems to be willing to use shock-therapy to make things happen. While I find his tactics disagreeable, as a resident of the Western world I can only hope that this short term conflict will lead to the Long Peace being even more stable in the long term
It's possible to try to understand the *why* behind something, and hope for the best possible outcome under the circumstances, without endorsing the *what* or *how*
That's what historians, investigative journalists, and even homicide detectives do every day
I hope that, if you reread my comment, you'll see that's what I am trying to do here too
As the leader of the USAID humanitarian assistance for three years, I'm no stranger to the vital impact that USAID has on the lives of Americans. Source: USA TODAY Shared via the Google app https://search.app/6rLX8Ynfn5kQ8mGb7
As much as I wish we didn't cut any USAID funding (although I am thoroughly jaded having worked in the "development industry", understanding that it's more than generosity and goodwill, it's a soft diplomatic method of exerting US influence and power, serving as a leverage point, as in "do our bidding or we will cut your funds"), I hope what you hope for happens. Dependencies in some ways are a necessary evil output of centuries of extraction and exploitation by the west. An intermediary step would be interdependency. I know nothing of how that would work, but hope that those who do know can make something happen for the good if the continent.
Incisive, as always.
Great piece. Aid cuts will no doubt create immense short-term pain for millions, but you're correct when you label them as a turning point. Africa has always been overly reliant on foreign investment and aid which has undermined the sovereignty of the majority of countries on the continent. It's a tragedy that this pattern has continued into the 21st century, and now Trump and his cronies are the ones making the wake-up call. Rough times are ahead, but hopefully a brighter future can come of it.
Very well-written. As much as I find Trump's approach and demeanor disheartening, I am, like you, hoping some short-term shock therapy will turn out to be good for a stronger Africa in the long run.
I think this is a lesson that (Western) Europe is also currently learning about its own security. I'd love to hear a deep dive from you on that topic as well.
Post World War II America, for all its faults, has done an incredible service to the world in maintaining the Long Peace. It has become so ubiquitous that I think most of the world had become blind to how incredible it is. It feels like peace and stable global trade "just happens", much like HIV aid arriving consistently.
In 1945 it made perfect sense for the US to take over security responsibility for a devastated Europe in the face of the USSR threat. But it's been 80 years, the Cold War is over, and it still feels expected that the US has 40 military bases in Europe and patrols the North Sea for European protection. (Just imagine if these roles were reversed).
I thought Polish PM Donald Tusk summarized it nicely: “500 million Europeans begging 300 million Americans to defend them from 140 million Russians. If you can count, count on yourself. Not in isolation, but with full awareness of your potential. Today, in Europe, we do not lack economic strength, people, but the belief that we are a global power.”
It's not that these thoughts are new, ever since Obama the US has asked European NATO members to spend more on their militaries. Trump just seems to be willing to use shock-therapy to make things happen. While I find his tactics disagreeable, as a resident of the Western world I can only hope that this short term conflict will lead to the Long Peace being even more stable in the long term
Who would want to be the victim of the short term shock therapy ?
Not you I guess
There have always been people who say " I’m not racist, but … “
Now we have those who say “ I dislike Trump, but … “
As far as I’m concerned you can’t like bits of a cruel person
It's possible to try to understand the *why* behind something, and hope for the best possible outcome under the circumstances, without endorsing the *what* or *how*
That's what historians, investigative journalists, and even homicide detectives do every day
I hope that, if you reread my comment, you'll see that's what I am trying to do here too
And Mussolini made the trains run on time !
We need to do our own thing.
Mine our own resources and start manufacturing our own products from said resources.
As the leader of the USAID humanitarian assistance for three years, I'm no stranger to the vital impact that USAID has on the lives of Americans. Source: USA TODAY Shared via the Google app https://search.app/6rLX8Ynfn5kQ8mGb7
American aid is usually tied to American products
Many Midwest farmers are now suffering financial loss because the crops they grew for USAaid are rotting in the fields
Aid works both ways