Is Aid Worth it? An Analysis of US Counterterror Programs: Weapons, Training, and Terror

Abstract

Is counterterrorism aid effective? Some counterterrorism aid programs focus on training and education, others focus on weapons disbursements. I argue that the type of aid program affects the effectiveness of the aid in countering terror. Education programs are more likely to reduce terror than weapons programs because education programs have higher levels of government control and are less likely to be mismanaged. I use data from USAID and the Global Terrorism Database to explore the relationship between aid and terror. I find support for my hypothesis; education programs reduce the likelihood of terrorist attacks in the recipient country. Weapons programs have ambiguous effects. These results suggest that it is better to spend US counterterrorism dollars on teaching and training than bullets and bombs. s