In a world where billions of dollars in foreign aid change hands each year, one agency stands at the crossroads of diplomacy, development, and power: USAID. USAID and the Politics of Foreign Aid: Who Benefits and Who Pays? pulls back the curtain on America’s largest aid agency to expose the strategic interests, economic entanglements, and global rivalries hidden beneath the humanitarian veneer.
From post-war reconstruction in Iraq and Afghanistan to controversial partnerships in Africa and Latin America, this powerful book investigates how U.S. aid is distributed—and manipulated—to serve both altruistic goals and hard geopolitical agendas. Through detailed case studies, incisive analysis, and a critical lens on public-private partnerships, author Patrick Wanjiku examines the complex mechanisms behind foreign aid: who receives it, who controls it, and who profits. Is USAID promoting global prosperity, or is it a tool of modern imperialism?
Whether you're a student of international relations, a policymaker, a development practitioner, or simply a curious reader, this book offers a compelling, well-researched journey through the often opaque world of foreign assistance. Learn how aid programs can simultaneously alleviate suffering and reinforce dependency, and how corporate interests and national security priorities quietly shape policy. This is more than just a critique—it’s a call to rethink what global aid should look like in the 21st century.
Uncover the truth behind America’s foreign aid strategy. Buy USAID and the Politics of Foreign Aid: Who Benefits and Who Pays? today and discover who really benefits—and who ultimately pays the price.