The other tool being put to the service of transformational diplomacy is U.S. foreign aid and development assistance. Aid is generally just pure help... food, medicine, money to get through a crisis. Development assistance is supposed to help on a much longer basis... building schools and hospitals, helping small businesses start, creating infrastructure, digging wells.
Concerns about Transformational Diplomacy
U.S.
foreign policy watchers have serious concerns about how this part of transformational diplomacy will be put in action. They say aid money in particular should be used to directly help people in serious need with little thought for the politics of the host government or the long term goals of the United States. Such selfless charity could in fact bolster the image of the U.S. in the very countries where governments seek to demonize America. Will this be possible under transformational diplomacy?
Likewise, development assistance has been seen as a way to send a positive image of the United States. We help many poor people in many countries...not because we want something from them or their governments...but simply because it is the right thing to do.
If development assistance becomes driven by transformational diplomacy will we only help people who can give a strategic boost to the United States?
In defense of using aid and development for promotion of democracy in particular is the outgoing administrator of the U.S.
Agency for International Development (USAID), Andrew Natsios. He said in speech earlier this year:
Democracy and governance are essential ingredients for economic growth and development. Conversely, corruption and bad governance are critical causes of low levels of economic growth and development. If USAID is to have success in its overall development goals, then it must help to build and support governments within countries that are capable, competent, transparent and accountable.
You can read all of Natsios' speech here.
Secretary Rice has nominated Randall Tobias to replace Natsios as USAID Administrator. And Rice has also said she will appoint Tobias to the newly created post of "development czar" for all State Department efforts. In his confirmation hearings, Tobais addressed the concept of "transformational diplomacy." A transcript of his remarks is here.