Excellent piece, Nikos. I propose you follow it up with a sequel featuring USAID's malfeasance and wanton waste of taxpayer money. USAID fraud proves altruism's power: wasting billions must be virtuous because they were given to "others."
Many thanks Jim. Another good follow-up would be US aid to Soviet Union in subsequent decades. That's a nice point you're making here: 'USAID fraud proves altruism's power: wasting billions must be virtuous because they were given to "others."'
After thinking more, I’m still not convinced that Western aid “saved” the Soviet Union. The NEP was already underway by 1921 and is seen by many historians as the key factor that stabilized the regime. It’s surprising that it isn’t mentioned, since it seems like the most obvious internal counterweight to the collapse scenario. Even without foreign aid, the regime may well have survived—just at a greater human cost.
“Today we can recognize that Western aid saved the Soviet Union from a total collapse in 1921–1923.”
It is a questionable evaluation. What is your argument for this? There was no reason why USSR had to collapse, even if million more people died. Moreover, I think no outcome of the Civil War would have led Russia to a good government. Same thing with Germany.
The famine cost 5 million lives. The aid was feeding millions per day. Without the aid, Soviet Union would be facing a Cambodia-style collapse. Cambodian regime lasted less than 4 years.
Excellent piece, Nikos. I propose you follow it up with a sequel featuring USAID's malfeasance and wanton waste of taxpayer money. USAID fraud proves altruism's power: wasting billions must be virtuous because they were given to "others."
Many thanks Jim. Another good follow-up would be US aid to Soviet Union in subsequent decades. That's a nice point you're making here: 'USAID fraud proves altruism's power: wasting billions must be virtuous because they were given to "others."'
Propaganda
After thinking more, I’m still not convinced that Western aid “saved” the Soviet Union. The NEP was already underway by 1921 and is seen by many historians as the key factor that stabilized the regime. It’s surprising that it isn’t mentioned, since it seems like the most obvious internal counterweight to the collapse scenario. Even without foreign aid, the regime may well have survived—just at a greater human cost.
“Today we can recognize that Western aid saved the Soviet Union from a total collapse in 1921–1923.”
It is a questionable evaluation. What is your argument for this? There was no reason why USSR had to collapse, even if million more people died. Moreover, I think no outcome of the Civil War would have led Russia to a good government. Same thing with Germany.
The famine cost 5 million lives. The aid was feeding millions per day. Without the aid, Soviet Union would be facing a Cambodia-style collapse. Cambodian regime lasted less than 4 years.