DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENT VERSUS ECONOMIC PROGRESS

Recently there has been a trend for those governments which provide development aid to put overt and explicit conditions on how the recipients of aid should use development funds to mold their societies. The values endorsed by the developed nations are respect for human rights, moves towards democracy, and steps to establish market economies. Is it appropriate for developed countries to attach strings to the aid they provide to developing countries or does this amount to an unjustifiable interference in the affairs of others? If the developed countries do attach strings, how are we to judge what to do when the strings get tangled? Democracy, human rights, and market economy are the values westerners have signalled they are going to insist on most highly in determining aid.