Theorising the Securitisation of Aid and Effects on Civil Societies

Abstract

International development assistance has always been a key part of foreign policy. During the Cold War period both the ‘communist’ Soviet Union and the capitalist West used international development assistance to foster allies in Africa, Latin and Central America, and Asia. In the post-9/11 context, too, international development and military aid have been deployed as tools to reward and persuade. The harnessing of international development assistance into the prosecution of the War on Terror has not been limited to increased resource allocations to strategic front-line states such as Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan. It has also required a shift in development priorities, in greater engagement between development and security institutions, the expansion and creation of new programmes promoting security interests, and an explicit ideological linking of development with counter-terrorism.

Not only are development, security and human rights all imperative: they also reinforce each other ... While poverty and denial of human rights may not be said to ‘cause’ civil war, terrorism or organised crime, they all greatly increase the risk of instability and violence ... . we will not enjoy development without security, we will not enjoy security without development.

Section IB, paragraphs 16 and 17, UN General Assembly 2005, ‘In larger freedom: towards development, security and human rights for all’ Report of the Secretary-General. A/59/2005, March