Ills of Aid: An Analysis of Third World Development Policies, The

Reusse, Eberhard. The Ills of Aid: An Analysis of Third World Development Policies. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 2002.

It seems that all one hears on the nightly news is constant criticism of U. S. Government programs here and abroad. With all this negativity, it is quite simple to understand Eberhard Reusse's concerns about development aid. His analysis of Third World development policies is remarkably frank (four chapters), thorough in its coverage, and easy to understand.

Reusse's thirty years of experience working with the international aid community lends significant credibility to the analysis he presents of the problems in the developmental aid paradigm and their potential solutions. Reusse works his magic by presenting a "practitioner's introduction" of developmental aid programs followed by a thorough review of two programs in Africa. A follow-on analysis of the "pathology" of the aid paradigm from "behavioral, environmental, and cognitive perspectives" leads naturally to the author's conclusions and recommendations.

Chapter 1 concentrates on providing a discussion of a "development paradigm" with a variety of "provocative viewpoints" concerning globalization, culture, bureaucracy, rhetoric, episteme, and theory. Significant time is spent building a case that those in the development community concentrate too much on the infrastructure rather than the culture, philosophy, religions and economic institutions of the receiving nations. He notes that frequently the views of those at the bottom of the ladder are ignored and preference is given to those at the top. He feels not enough time is being spent researching and validating the true needs of the people, the structure aid takes, or the management of international aid program implementation. Reusse observed that Aid over the last four decades has had little impact on changing living conditions and political outlook in the Third World.

Chapter 2 details the failures common to aid programs through two case studies. The first case study involved the UN "war on waste" which focused on inefficient agricultural practices in the Third World. The second case study focused on the "cereal banks model which is a ". . .form of collective grain storage and marketing at village level." Both cases were predicated on the paradigm that farmers were unable to store their crops effectively and thus make them targets of "unscrupulous merchants." Time has shown the paradigm to be invalid, yet the perception has prevailed making change almost impossible.

Chapter 3 analyzes the "pathology" of the aid paradigm from "behavioral, environmental, and cognitive perspectives." For example, Reusse points out that donor governments generally pursue UN approved development goals, voter and or commercial interests, the political climate of their constituencies, and national economic influences. Receiver countries employ "deliberate passivity," as well as dramatization. . ." to maintain the flow of development monies. The chapter ends with the contention that trends toward systems of ignorance, waste, inertia, and subversion, provide the breeding grounds for eventual further weakening of the development paradigm.

In chapter 4, Reusse concludes that ". . .misguided concepts of Third World realities that provoke a need for intervention, are at the base of inappropriate development policies." His recommendations range the gamut from a basic restructuring of the development assistance paradigm, to developing an international "oversight" capability minimally affected by the politics of the day, to increasing the transparency of public transactions of this nature.

This book is concise, yet compelling in its honesty. It would be an excellent primer for newly assigned public servants that may find themselves involved in any kind of developmental-assistance programs. Reusse's message of honesty, quality research, and accurate self-evaluation are critical assets for any public servant. The ills of aid as described by the author (trends toward misjudgment, waste, inertia, complacency, and arrogance) may permeate more than foreign aid programs.

In the preface to the book, the author laments; . . ."After a life of active service in the development-assistance machine, I have decided to speak with a louder voice." He does not let the reader down.

Victor C. Ortloff

Troy State University

Saundra Casey

Air University (Montgomery, AL)

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