Short of the goal: US policy and poorly performing states. edited by N. Birdsall M. Vaishnav and R. L. Ayres (Washington DC: centre for global development, 2006. ISBN 978-1-933286-05-1. P/bk, 483 pp).

✍ Scribed by Dr Simon Tate

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2009
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 38 KB
• Volume: 21
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0954-1748
• DOI: 10.1002/jid.1486

✦ Synopsis

Short of the Goal: US Policy and Poorly Performing States examines the relationship between poorly performing states and international security. In doing so, it aims to refocus debate away from the most notorious objective of post 9/11 US policymakers-combating terrorism through pre-emptive attacks on such states-by arguing that improving their level of development is also an essential tool for ensuring western security.

In part one, the book's main challenge is directed towards US administrations' longstanding policy of focusing development aid towards a limited number of 'pivotal' or 'anchor' states, whose fate is said to determine the stability of their region and the wider international community. This, it is argued, distributes the aid too narrowly to countries that have already established the policies and institutions conducive to development, while excluding those most in need of assistance. While morally problematic, the text adds extra spice to the argument for redistributing US aid by suggesting that it is those states most in need that also present the greatest security threats to the West. Through a series of country-based case studies in part two, contributors present examples of this relationship between underdevelopment and security, reaffirming the editors' argument that any of the world's poorly performing states-defined by 'a combustible mix of poverty and deficient government' (p. 2)-are potential targets for infiltration by illicit transnational networks. By moving money, people, weapons and drugs around the world it is suggested that these illicit networks undermine governments in poorly performing states by promising that only they are able to raise development levels, while establishing a power base from which to threaten the security of the West. Although this argument is compelling, it is noticeable that the editors' choice of case studies excludes reference to some commonly perceived examples of poorly performing states, particularly in the so-called Axis of Evil. Likewise, although there is a case study of Yemen in which the role of al-Qa'idah is discussed, its influence in African countries receives less attention. That said, it is welcome that the spotlight is turned upon other cases in need of illumination. The book will, therefore, appeal to those with an interest in development studies or (geo)politics and will offer an American policy perspective to geographers with research interests in Burma-Myanmar,