Lethal aid and human security: The effects of US security assistance on civilian harm in low- and middle-income countries

Abstract

Since 2001, there has been a dramatic increase in the amount of US military aid flowing to foreign governments. What is the impact of this aid on human security? Drawing on recent research on the principal–agent relationship between state leaders and security sector actors, I develop a theory of the impact of security assistance on the use of deadly force against civilians. Using methods to account for the endogeneity of aid allocations, I find that the impact of security assistance on state violence varies based on the type of assistance provided and the institutional environment in the recipient state.