92 chapter four
( 1997 ) find little evidence that mediation affected the behavior of endur-
ing rivals or that it reduced the probability of future conflict. Nevertheless,
Bercovitch and Schneider ( 2000 ) argue that past failure as a mediator does
not dissuade actors from embarking on future mediation efforts. Further-
more, international prosociality tends to persist and grow regardless of
demand. James Fearon ( 2008 ), for example, finds that emergency aid re-
lief grew significantly since the end of the Cold War despite a decrease in
the number of civil wars and a decline in subsequent refugee populations
worldwide. Prosocial policies, then, seem only tenuously connected to the
needs of the recipients. This raises questions regarding the motivations of
the donors.
What then explains the persisting allure of international prosociality?
In this chapter I identify ten puzzling empirical patterns of international
prosociality. While it is possible to find alternative explanations for some
of these puzzles, a model that hopes to provide a unified theoretical expla-
nation for prosocial behavior should be able to account for all of them. As
I demonstrate in this chapter, all ten observations are consistent with the
conspicuous consumption framework. No other single analytical model
is able to provide an explanation for all ten observations. Discussion of
these puzzles is peppered throughout the chapter. The observations are
as follows:
- Prosociality has been constantly increasing since the end of World War II.
- International prosocial efforts often do little to improve the welfare of the
recipients. - International prosocial efforts often do little to improve the material welfare of
the donors. - In many cases we can observe contests of beneficence defying the logic of col-
lective action. - Patterns of foreign aid show a convergence on a small number of recipients.
- Middle powers carry a relatively heavier burden of foreign aid.
- Middle powers have been reducing their support for peacekeeping over the last
few decades. - International prosociality exhibits rampant tokenism.
- Donors show a preference for conspicuousness, sometimes compromising the
success of the prosocial endeavor. - Some actors refuse offers of prosocial assistance even in times of need.