This article in the NY Times about China cutting back on deals with developing countries in Africa sparked a question. The point of the article seems to be that countries with poor human rights records found they could ignore Western demands by working with China - trading their natural resources for development assistance. With commodity prices falling and economies crashing, these countries are no longer getting aid from China.
What is interesting is how the article draws a distinction between China's decision to work with countries with poor human rights records without conditions while the US sets conditions. Before we feel good about ourselves, I ask this question: Is there any difference between aid that comes with conditions that are never enforced and therefore never met, or aid that comes without conditions?
I guess it is clear that William Easterly is influencing me. But can we really act righteous when all our loan conditions do nothing to change the countries with poor human rights records?
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