Why some in the Global South are not mourning the demise of USAID
Why some in the Global South are not mourning the demise of USAID
Aid industry has always propped up imperial domination. Its implosion may be an opportunity to shape a new order.
Author: Patrick Gathara
Published on: 03/03/2025 | 00:00:00
AI Summary:
United States president Donald Trump’s blitzkrieg campaign against USAID demolished the organization described as the “world’s largest donor” many have lamented the grave consequences of the US president’s unprecedented decision as well as moves by other countries, such as the United Kingdom, to cut aid. But describing “development” as having a humanistic soul would be to many people in the Global South a contradiction in terms. Western humanitarianism has not just lost its way. It has been intimately tied to Western colonialism from the start. Despite the proliferation of aid and development agencies, the racialised global order has barely budged. The hollowing-out of Western aid will undoubtedly be tragic and painful. We should address the world as it is, not as we wish it to be, and do all we can to ameliorate the impact. The end of aid should see the end of “development”. We need to work for an order that truly embodies a humanistic soul. The order must be embodied by the humanist soul.
Original: 923 words
Summary: 167 words
Percent reduction: 81.91%
