文摘
A dearth exists in the literature addressing the effectiveness of foreign aid on the furtherance of donor governments' goals. This study addressed this gap by investigating the effectiveness of U.S. nonmilitary aid on the advancement of U.S. policy objectives in a strategically important region. The theoretical foundation of this study was the rational actor model of foreign policy decision making,which holds that foreign policy decisions are made in such a way as to maximize benefits while minimizing costs. The research questions focused on the influence of nonmilitary aid to further U.S. foreign policy objectives and the effectiveness of strategic substitution as a basis for selecting foreign aid recipient nations. A qualitative case study design was used to examine the impact of foreign assistance on 4 purposefully selected nations---Egypt,Israel,Jordan,and Palestine---over a 10-year period. Annual data reflective of U.S. aid expenditures and recipient nation movement in relation to U.S. foreign policy objectives from government and respected nongovernment sources were coded for trend analysis and discussion. Key findings indicated that,over the period studied,U.S. nonmilitary assistance had little effect in forwarding U.S. policy objectives in 3 of the 4 strategically important nations studied: Egypt,Jordan,and Palestine. Conclusions support the argument that continued use of strategic substitution in designating aid recipient nations focuses U.S. aid on those nations least likely to advance U.S. foreign policy goals. Implications for social change include support for the notion that to maximize benefits associated with the provision of foreign assistance the U.S. government should focus on nations that exhibit a capacity and desire for change rather than simply a strategic importance.
