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USAID Democracy Programs Can Complicate¹ International Relations

After the collapse² of the Soviet³ Union, the leaders of Russia asked the U.S. for assistance in building a democracy and a market economy.

Over the past 20 years, election-monitoring groups, human rights organizations, and anti-corruption efforts have been funded in part by USAID, which has provided more than $2.6 billion to Russia.

President Vladimir Putin has now ended USAID's programs, reportedly out of concern they interfere⁴ with elections by aiding opposition⁵ groups.

But David Satter, a foreign policy analyst⁶ with the Hudson Institute, said USAID programs do not pick political sides. Instead, he said, the programs try to help disenfranchised groups use legal, peaceful and democratic means to get their voices heard.

“The existence of such groups gives to people on the one hand the know-how⁷ to defend their rights, and on the other, the conviction that defending their rights is possible,” said Satter.

Earlier this year Egypt’s military leaders overseeing the transition to an elected government attempted to prosecute⁸ U.S.-funded pro-democracy and human rights groups. They relented after weeks of heavy diplomatic pressure from the United States.

James Goldgeier, the dean of American University’s School of International Service, said the most vocal⁹ critics of U.S. democracy programs often are elite¹⁰ leaders trying to hold onto power in the face of growing popular opposition.

“If you are an authoritarian¹¹ leader and you have a group that is fostering civil society, you are going to naturally fear that, that funding is helping¹² people who would like you to not be in the... not be the ruler anymore,” said Goldgeier.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has also been critical of U.S. pro-democracy efforts, saying they have attempted to undermine his socialist¹³ agenda. Goldgeier said the U.S. does indeed promote a different ideology¹⁴.

“The United States in general tends to support democracy, a market economy, rule of law and protection of human rights. So if those things are at odds¹⁵ with what a particular government might be promoting then there will be a conflict,” he said.

Goldgeier says the U.S. does not pick political sides, but it does support building a framework of democracy that preserves majority rule and minority rights.