Foreign Aid: What It Is, What It Does In Iraq, Afghanistan, And Other Countries

Raymond and Josette Malley

Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
April 8 - May 13, 2004
D.O.C. House

Foreign economic aid is an essential component of the foreign policy of the United States and other rich countries. In this six-week course, we will discuss what foreign aid is, and how it is used both to alleviate poverty in developing countries and to address global problems including diseases, population growth, and environmental degradation. Operating agencies such as the U.S. Agency for International Development and the World Bank will be described, and common criticisms of foreign aid will be addressed.

Then we will consider how foreign aid is being utilized today in the hot spots of Iraq and Afghanistan. (We will not, however, debate the political wisdom of the U.S. being in those two countries). We will also discuss projects in Bangladesh and some other countries.

This will be an active discussion course. During some sessions, the class will divide into small groups to examine and report on specific development cases. There will be no textbook, but one or two reference books will be recommended. The study leaders will distribute a moderate amount of reading material weekly. No background in the subject is necessary.

Class is limited to 20 members.

Raymond Malley and Josette Murphy Malley, Ph.D., are foreign aid professionals. Raymond retired as a Senior Foreign Service Officer after 30 years service at posts in Asia, Africa, Europe, and Washington. He also worked in global business and served in the military. Josette held positions as a social scientist for 25 years with the World Bank and the U.S. Agency for International Development, and remains a consultant for the former. They live in Hanover and McLean, Virginia, and travel worldwide.