International support for increasing
local influence of the state
The
state is the most effective way of organising the security and well-being of a
population. International consensuses seem to emerge that identify lack of
central authority as the obstacle to ensuring global security and prosperity.
The challenge is to identify economic, military and political measure that can
enhance the capacity of states in low-income countries to perform the functions
that define them as states. Achieving well-governed sustainable states requires long-term preventive
engagement with a wide range of policy instruments. One major policy challenge is to
overcome the differences between a range of actors in understanding how to
achieve the right balance between security, development and governance
policies, through use of political dialogue, development assistance, trade
agreements and military forces.[1]
International intervention
in Afghanistan has primarily been concerned with security and has always taken
that narrow approach to stability. In exchange for nominal control of regions international
players have offered regional Strongmen key functions of the state. The Clientele state over time serves the
interests of few and fails to meet its duties toward the public. The
organisaiton of state was to maintain ethnic and tribal balance and provide
roles for strongmen. The state in Afghanistan as built by the US led coalition
is not intended to be a sovereign charged with the welfare of the public and establish
monopoly of violence.
Conclusion
A
strongman administers district and even village or cluster of villages since
the fall of monarchy who is heavily armed and has replaced the traditional
landowners. Strongmen are connected with the grassroots through informal and
personal networks and affiliated to politico-military organization, generally organised
along ethnic lines, but loyalties are shifting and elusive. The strongmen
carries out and exceeds in what are the functions of Afghan state, services
provided by external institutions include healthcare by INGO while
administration of primary education is carried out by local elders. As such
Afghan state is not a reality for Afghans living in the countryside. This
sociopolitical environment sustains poverty and non-urban patchwork of fiefdoms
that is tribal ethnographically and ultraconservative in character.
The
strongmen regularly use a range of covert, coercive and agitative measures to
obtain political and financial rewards from the state; strongmen also quarrel
among themselves over financial, political and military interests. This game of
survival of the fittest wrongs many and has huge collateral damage, such
violations decree expiation for expedience and public concern of morality, but
the state is unable to administer justice. The long-term impact of such
dynamics creates community fragmentation, erodes national identity and prevents
the creation of unitary nation.
The
most successful institution to reign in the strongmen and stop them from
tearing the country apart was Taliban. Their effort was spearheaded by
disarmament and integrating the main body of militia into their ranks. The
presence of foreign troops altered the dynamics and made the competition among
strongmen less violent by means of military pressure, monetary and political
reward and taking out the irreconcilable ones under the label of Taliban. The
majority of strongmen targeted by the US and allies were Pashtuns and over the
years they have gone after sub commander too. This vicious cycle of violence,
ethnic conflicts, injustice and creation and propping of a new elite class has
had destabablising impact, pitting some who seek vengeance against some who
protect their interests.
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