Millennium Develop News Today

A new definition of "human security" being promoted at the U.N.,which includes guaranteeing everything from a minimum income toprotection from violence and the loss of traditions and values,could undermine fundamental principles of sovereignty,accountability, and national security. The U.S. government mustresist language in U.N. declarations, resolutions, and agreementsthat embraces a faulty understanding of security.

For long-run development, most of the hope is not from aid at all; it's from home-grown, private entrepreneurs, social entrepreneurs, reformist politicians, and political activists who campaign fordemocracy, get good customer feedback, have incentives andaccountability, and get good outcomes. Aid at best could play asupporting role, fixing specific problems that are fixable byoutsiders.