It is commonplace to hear the argument that not giving aid to dictatorships is immoral. The argument goes: by not giving aid, you are the hurting the people you are trying to help. It is counterproductive and probably makes the people hate the West (if they don't already, with state propaganda).
However, using a utilitarian calculus, denying aid may the moral action. Suppose the West gave £100 of aid to the Burmese Junta. £20 worth of aid may have reached the people (and if it did, it would probably be falsely labelled "from the Burmese Junta"!) But, the other £80 would be used to further oppress the people: buying more arms and funding state brutality. Thus, giving aid to dictatorships can hurt the people more than they gain.
However, using a utilitarian calculus, denying aid may the moral action. Suppose the West gave £100 of aid to the Burmese Junta. £20 worth of aid may have reached the people (and if it did, it would probably be falsely labelled "from the Burmese Junta"!) But, the other £80 would be used to further oppress the people: buying more arms and funding state brutality. Thus, giving aid to dictatorships can hurt the people more than they gain.
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