Question 7

7. Do powerful countries have any particular obligations towards less powerful countries? How about rich countries in relation to poorer ones?

Through Diplomatic Representation, larger or wealthier countries are morally obligated to help less powerful or poor ones. When they offer assistance, however, they have to be careful about what they say and how they say it. The wealthier and more powerful countries need to offer a hand up versus a hand out. Doing so offers long term solutions and allows the country receiving assistance to maintain its dignity.

For example, looking at the genocide occurring in Darfur, some of the conflict originated with fertile land and access to water and the government turning over control to the vigilante groups to be the enforcers of the law. Other countries can get involved in various ways. Organizations can provide education on crop development and seed money to start farms so countries have sufficient food and resources to feed themselves. One such organization is the Heifer project, which purchases animals that can be bred to provide food to outlying villages. Traditional education is also important. Schools set up through organizations such as the Peace Corp, allow countries to develop an educated population who can later have the skills to promote essential skills such as literacy. The Peace Corp also goes into underdeveloped areas to install sewer and drainage systems, which ultimately reduce the amount of illness in an area. Groups like Doctors Without Borders can bring essential medical care to areas that otherwise would have none. Simple supplies like mosquito nets can reduce the number of deaths in an area resulting from mosquito borne illnesses like malaria. Education can also prevent the spread of communicable diseases such as AIDS. Groups like CARE provide temporary housing until new homes can be constructed. Construction can be another essential means of employment to promote independence by teaching marketable skills. Countries can also provide military protection to prevent the targeted attack of one particular group, while peaceful negotiations transpire to resolve conflicts. Neighboring nations can also provide a safe haven, as Chad has done.

With the genocide occurring in Darfur, people need to not just give a temporary fix now; they need to think long term and help the country of Sudan in becoming a more self-sufficient country. Another way I think powerful countries can help less powerful countries is through the Barter System. Through the Barter System each country would be able to profit, making the more needy country feel like it can become independent in meeting its needs. If the smaller countries do not want the help from the government of the larger countries then NGOs at least of the larger countries should try to step in to help.

Countries that were considered third world a short time ago are becoming more powerful. If the countries that currently hold the greatest power positions don't help struggling governments when they need help, how can they expect assistance from the new nations in power when help is needed? From an alliance standpoint, helping less fortunate countries can build alliances to maintain positions of power; the countries currently gaining more power also benefit through these alliances because their growth is supported.

Location is also very important. For example, if countries like the United States don't help a country like Pakistan, surrounded by enemies of the U.S., such as Afghanistan and Iran, it could be taken over by a country that's our enemy and geographically place our enemy in a position to do more harm against us. Also, from a moral obligation, how can countries stand by and watch people starve for food and kill each other over basic human needs? It's just not morally right.