Carrots, Sticks, and Ethnic Conflict: Rethinking Development AssistanceMilton J. Esman, Ronald J. Herring Development assistance employs carrots and sticks to influence regimes and obtain particular outcomes: altered economic policies, democratization, relief of suffering from catastrophes. Wealthy nations and international agencies such as the World Bank justify development assistance on grounds of improving the global human condition. Over the last forty years, however, ethnic conflict has increased dramatically. Where does ethnic conflict fit within this set of objectives? How do the resources, policy advice, and conditions attached to aid affect ethnic conflict in countries in which donors intervene? How can assistance be deployed in ways that might moderate rather than aggravate ethnic tensions? These issues are addressed comparatively by area specialists and participant-observers from development assistance organizations. This book is the first systematic effort to evaluate this dimension of international affairs--and to propose remedies. Case studies include Russia, Ecuador, Sri Lanka, and Kenya, with references to many other national experiences. Cross-cutting chapters consider evolution of USAID and the World Bank's policies on displacement of people by development projects, as well as how carrots and sticks may affect ethnic dynamics, but through different mechanisms and to varying degrees depending on political dynamics and regime behaviors. They show that projects may also exacerbate ethnic conflict by reinforcing territoriality and exposing seemingly unfair allocative principles that exclude or harm some while benefiting others. For students of international political economy, development studies, comparative politics, and ethnic conflict, this book illuminates a problem area that has long been overlooked in international affairs literature. It is essential reading for staff members and policymakers in development assistance agencies and international financial institutions. Milton J. Esman is the John S. Knight Professor of International Studies, Emeritus, and Professor of Government, Emeritus, at Cornell University. Ronald J. Herring is Director of the Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies at Cornell, the John S. Knight Professor of International Relations, and Professor of Government at Cornell University. |
Contents
Projects and Policies Politics and Ethnicities | 1 |
The World Bank and Displacement The Challenge of Heterogeneity | 26 |
USAID and Ethnic Conflict An Epiphany? | 49 |
Foreign Aid and Ethnic Interests in Kenya | 90 |
Ethnic Cooperation in Sri Lanka Through the Keyhole of a USAID Project | 113 |
Making Ethnic Conflict The Civil War in Sri Lanka | 140 |
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Africa Agency for International agriculture aid agencies areas benefits Berezovsky chapter coalition Colombo competition conditionality corruption countries crisis cultural democracy democratic Devel development assistance development projects displacement dominant donors economic Ecuador effects Esman ethnic communities ethnic conflict ethnic groups example farmers focused foreign aid funds Gal Oya genocide growth Huaorani human rights humanitarian ibid identity impact increased Indian indigenous Institute interethnic International Development interventions investment irrigation issues Jewish Jews Kalenjin Kenya Kikuyu land LTTE Mahaweli ment mestizo minority mobilization neoliberal NGOs nomic officials oligarchs opment organizations percent population President produce programs reform regime regional Report resettlement response role rural Rwanda sector Shenfield Shuar Sinhala Sinhalese social society Sri Lanka strategy structural adjustment Supported Study Tamil tensions tion tribal U.S. Agency U.S. foreign policy University Press Uphoff USAID violence Washington Weekly Review World Bank