PDF Ebook Foreign Intervention and Global Public Bads
A growing literature emphasizes the significant benefits associated with the provision of “global public goods” (see Kaul, Grunberg and Stern 1999; Kaul et al. 2003a). Like traditional public goods, global public goods are defined by the characteristics of non-rivalry and non excludability. However, global public goods have the additional spatial characteristic of extending “…across countries and regions, and across rich and poor population groups, and even across generations” (Kaul et al. 1999b: 3). Examples of global public goods include disease prevention; environmental sustainability; information; political, economic and social stability; and international communication and transportation networks. As these examples indicate, global public goods can be both tangible (e.g., infrastructure or the environment) and intangible (e.g., economic, political and social stability).
A central conclusion of this literature is that the concerted efforts of international organizations (the IMF, regional development banks, NGOs, UN, World Bank, World Trade Organization, etc.) and governments from around the world are required for the adequate provision of global public goods. This includes foreign interventions in the forms of foreign aid and foreign military interventions to correct “global public bads.”
For example, Cook and Sachs (1999) and Jayaraman and Kanbur (1999) explore the role of foreign aid in the provision of global public goods. Ferroni (2000) calls for reforms in delivery of foreign aid to provide global public goods in a more effective manner. Ferguson (2004) and Lal (2004) call for the United States to embrace its role as an empire to ensure global stability. According to these authors, stability requires the provision of global public goods in the form of a stable world monetary order, clear and enforced rules regarding international trade and finance, and protection against state failure and rogue states. They conclude that the United States is in the best position to create such stability. Mendez (1999) discusses the importance of UN peacekeeping forces in providing the global public good of peace, while Collier (2007) concludes that properly timed foreign military interventions can generate global stability through the prevention of military coups. Mitchener and Weidenmier (2005) and Ferguson and Schularick (2006) analyze historical cases of foreign intervention by the United States and Britain and highlight the resulting global public goods generated by military intervention nd the announced willingness to use military force under certain circumstances.
Download
PDF Ebbok Foreign Intervention and Global Public Bads
Posted in :
