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At U.N., U.S. Uses Aid to Aid Decision Making
From The Observer:
The US uses its aid budget to bribe those countries which have a vote in the United Nations security council, giving them 59 per cent more cash in years when they have a seat, according to research by economists.Kofi Annan, the outgoing UN Secretary-General, expressed his frustration at the power the US wields over the UN in his parting speech last week. In a detailed analysis of 50 years of data, Harvard University's Ilyana Kuziemko and Eric Werker provide the clearest evidence yet that money is used by the council's richest member to grease the wheels of diplomacy....
When there is a controversial vote in prospect, the premium for countries with a security council seat is even higher. US aid surges by as much as 170 per cent, bringing in a £23m windfall, while the UN spends an extra £4m.
'Some countries serve on the security council during relatively calm years, whereas others, by chance, are fortunate enough to serve during a year in which a key resolution is debated and their vote becomes more valuable,' the authors say....
Via Raw Story.
Comments (15)
Nicolai wrote on December 18, 2006 4:14 PM:"You bribe members of the UNSC with the aid you have, not the aid you'd want to have..."
Tim wrote on December 18, 2006 11:57 PM:This is just a fact of life in the "new diplomacy." We bribe our way with "aid" in every part of the world where there are "American interests." The "coalition of the willing" were all bought, sadly with military aid in most cases. The aid we give always has a price attached to it. We give aid and there isn't any "accountability" for it in many cases so it becomes a bribe, aiding not the needy or the poor, that's for sure. "Ask not what your country can do for you....." is passe'!
Castor Troy wrote on December 19, 2006 3:02 AM:Ummmm, Tim, note the part about this being an analysis of 50 years' worth of data. This is standard diplomacy. And hardly surprising. I mean, we should be giving more help to people who help us less?
gonzone wrote on December 19, 2006 8:19 AM:So this is how Mr. Moustache "straightened out the UN?" Sure sounds like a strategy for getting rid of corruption, eh?
Tim wrote on December 19, 2006 10:21 AM:Castor.....What I was trying to get across was that in the past fifty years our "aid granting" philosophy has changed, i.e. the "guns vs butter" ratio has switched, if not worse. The key word here is "aid," there was a time, say 50 years ago, when we gave more determined on the need rather than the "strategy." We would administer aid programs in the past too and now we give $$$ and, in most cases those in the most need, get the least assistance. There is certainly nothing wrong with giving a helping hand and expecting nothing in return. Your comment on should we be helping people who help us the least is part of the problem. It's "aid." It should be given by need, not by "return value." One will naturally follow the other, just not as quick.
I don't express myself as well as I would like, but you see my point, I'm sure.
dzman49 wrote on December 19, 2006 2:35 PM:And this doesn't even count bonus subsidies going to those nations who joined the "coalition of the willing".
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