Matt Schlenker To be fair, if it works, it benefits some communities, but project-based aid simply cannot lift entire towns, much less countries out of poverty. Why do it, and indeed, why make it the dominant action in dev economics? Because it keeps the actors who supply it relevant.

The deluded idea that we can get what we want through coercion comes out of this deep authoritarian mindset, so a more democratic politics would yield better analysis and better policy.

But this deep authoritarianism is invisible if you think democracy is just elections.

💯 And why does the argument have traction when failure is the consistent outcome?

I think it’s because people who succeed in politics tend to be the kind who get results by pushing around subordinates—and they likewise see the rivals they want to coerce as inferiors.

Join Quincy Institute tomorrow, April 16, to discuss China as a hegemonic challenge in Asia. Is China capable of dominating Asia? What level of U.S. military investment is necessary to prevent Chinese regional hegemony? Register now! quincyinst.org/events/china-a…

US plans to isolate China rest on a S Korea president who ran as a harsh reactionary, barely won election, governs in anti-democratic ways, and got a crushing loss in midterm elections.

If the US needs to align with people like this to achieve its goals, maybe rethink the goals.

“We face the biggest arms race in our region since 1945…and we’re responding.”—Pat Conroy MP, i.e. making the arms race worse, not acting to escape it.

Fascinating how terrifying irrationality appears so rational to those leading Asia-Pacific to conflict.
politico.com/newsletters/na…

It’s quite a leap to accuse/insinuate “China” of co-opting technology in a space that is led by Chinese players that are doing the execution.

It reflects the sad state of understanding in this country of how things these days are *physically produced.

I just had a great discussion with Sarang Shidore and Mike about the emerging formation of “minilateral” alliances and partnerships organized by the US against China.

This is a highly significant but low-profile development in Asia’s security architecture. Recording below.

WED 4/10 10AM: US–Japan–Philippines Summit: Strengthening Deterrence or Exacerbating Conflict? JOIN QI for a special discussion w/ Jake Werner Sarang Shidore & Mike Mochizuki The Elliott School quincyinst.org/events/us-japa…