Power, Politics and Development in Afghanistan: Introduction

Nemat Bizhan, Matthew Willner-Reid, Jasmine Bhatia

Research output: Contribution to journalLetterpeer-review

Abstract

POLITICS AND DEVELOPMENT ARE CLOSELY intertwined in Afghanistan.For understandable reasons, most commentary on Afghanistan has tended to focus on the ongoing insurgency;themyriadpowerstrugglesunderpinning theinternationalstate-buildingenterprisearemuchlessoftenthefocusof academicstudy.Whendevelopmentpoliciesdocomeunderthespotlight, theapproachisoftenhighlytechnocratic,insufficientlytakingintoaccount thepoliticalforcesthatdeterminehowprogramsareconceived,perceived, andreceivedbyvariousactorsateverylevel,andhowthesefactorsdetermine whatimpacttheyultimatelyhave.Withinalively“aidmarketplace,”governmentministries,UNagencies,NGOs,andprivatecompaniesjostlefor funding,control,prestige,andinfluence.Donorsandthecentralgovernmentareengagedinongoingnegotiationsregardingtheconditionalityand alignmentofaid,whereissuesoftrust,capacity,andvestedinterestsplay pivotalroles.Thebalanceofpowerbetweenthecentralgovernmentandits peripheriescontinuestobehotlydebated.Debatesabouthowtodefine, prioritize,andaddresscriticalneeds,aswellashowtomeasurethesuccessor failureofdevelopmentinitiatives,areallstronglycontestedandinfluenced byorganizationalinterests.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)967-972
JournalAsian Survey
Volume58
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2019

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