Hi Terri, Money is only part of it, though of course contractors as well as NGOs made billions facilitating nation-building; as such there is an in-built series of interest groups that favour intervention every time as it makes them rich. But even beyond this reality, a lot of the people pushing it (and I saw this first hand in DC) really were true believers, meant what they said, and believed the US could 'add water and get George Washington' easily and that this would change the world for the better. Beware the well-intentioned, when they are arrogant, ignorant, true believers. I remember saying to my chief of staff in DC, 'No one would believe that many of these guys are doing this because they really believe it, and not for personal gain.' But incredibly it was so. Thanks for the great question!
Hope I am not bothering you with my questions, I understand how incredibly busy you must be. Disregard if busy.
But my “amateur” question is, what is the MOTIVE for nation building? Is it money?
Hi Terri, Money is only part of it, though of course contractors as well as NGOs made billions facilitating nation-building; as such there is an in-built series of interest groups that favour intervention every time as it makes them rich. But even beyond this reality, a lot of the people pushing it (and I saw this first hand in DC) really were true believers, meant what they said, and believed the US could 'add water and get George Washington' easily and that this would change the world for the better. Beware the well-intentioned, when they are arrogant, ignorant, true believers. I remember saying to my chief of staff in DC, 'No one would believe that many of these guys are doing this because they really believe it, and not for personal gain.' But incredibly it was so. Thanks for the great question!