United States and the developing world; agenda for action 1973

What should be the American attitude toward the poor countries? For many years, we have answered this question either in terms of cold war politics or a sense of concern about people less fortunate than ourselves. Today, however, cold war problems no longer dominate our attention or provide reasons for promoting the development of poor countries. And, while there is a great reservoir of moral concern in America, it unfortunately is not now providing sufficient incentive for major undertakings by the United States on behalf of the developing world.

Yet the problems and the needs of the poor countries persist. Millions of people living in those countries face hardships and depriva tions that degrade their lives and offer no hope for personal fulfillment. Consider, for instance, that in these countries, children under five years of age comprise only 20 per cent of the total population but account for more than 60 per cent of deaths. Two thirds of those children who escape premature death will be physically and intellectually stunted by malnutrition. Consider also that there are in these countries 100 million more adult illiterates than there were 20 years ago. The Presi dent of the World Bank has rightly described this human condition: "Death and disease are rampant, education and employment scarce, squalor and stagnation common, and opportunity and the realization of personal potential drastically limited."

Because of these facts alone, we Americans should be concerned about what is happening to the two and one half billion people who live in the poor countries and do something about it. Yet, it also is be coming increasingly clear that there are other reasons for Americans to be concerned. As the essays in this report point out in detail, there is a host of ways in which the United States is becoming tied more closely to other countries, both rich and poor.