Aid is obviously a controversial topic, and not just in how it is implemented. The basic assumption behind foreign aid, that states and NGOs have the right to dictate to other states how to handle their internal affairs, can be problematic. Instead of looking at these valid critiques of foreign aid, I'd like to examine the idea of utilizing foreign aid for desired strategic affects.
The first example that comes to mind is the Marshall Plan, or the European Recovery Plan. This massive economic assistance plan was designed to enable development in Europe post World War II, which was seen as critical to establish Western Europe as a capable partner in the Cold War. The plan itself committed 10% of the national budget at the time to foreign aid. It was a huge investment, and I suggest it was well spent, given the trade and military relationships between the US and Western Europe.
Another, more modern example of foreign aid for strategic goals can be seen in our relations with both Israel and Egypt. The two nations take the lions share of our 'foreign aid' in the form of military assistance. In 1979, our aid to Egypt was critical in the peace process between the two nations, which have not fought each other since, and in fact work together to an extent in the security realm today. Although this aid is military in nature, it helps to achieve strategic goals.
So what are some potential areas for utilizing aid in a more strategic manner? I think a prime example is infectious disease control. It's easy to ignore problems when they do not seem to have a direct affect on your own soil, but swine flu, bird flu, ebola and now zika have all shown that diseases know no borders. A comprehensive assistance plan that involves all parts of the government, from aid for medical center construction, education for medical professionals, and utilizing the military for assistance during pandemics could achieve much for both the populations directly at risk as well as ensuring the health of all nations. If run correctly, this can also generate soft power for the US.
I really like that you brought this up. I spent a lot of time in my undergrad learning about how foreign aid provide by various NGO groups can exacerbate problems by creating more dependency on corrupt governments and making it more difficult for displaced people to return to their homes. It is interesting to compare that with the success the US has had with the Marshal plan as well as Israel and Egypt. Thinking of the success the US has had makes it seem more unfortunate that the US can't find strategic reasons to engage in foreign aid more often. I agree that disease control is definitely an area in which the US might intervene again but only if the disease gets intense enough.
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