Transition in Afghanistan Hope, Despair and the Limits of Statebuilding

This book, by one of the most experienced authorities on the subject, presents a deep analysis of the very difficult current situation in Afghanistan. Covering a wide range of important subjects including state-building, democracy, war, the rule of law, and international relations, the book draws out two overarching key factors: the way in which the prevailing neopatrimonial political order has become entrenched, making it very difficult for any other political order to take root; and the hostile region in which Afghanistan is located, especially the way in which an ongoing ‘creeping invasion’ from Pakistani territory has compromised the aspirations of both the Afghan government and its international backers to move the country to a more stable position.

TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgments Map 1. Introduction 2. The unravelling of Afghanistan Statebuilding and reconstruction 3. Statebuilding: challenges and pathologies 4. Political development: mass, elite and institutional dimensions 5. Reconstruction: a critical assessment Democracy and elections 6. Democracy and legitimation: challenges in the reconstitution of political processes 7. Afghan elections: from the sublime to the ridiculous? Law and Human Rights 8. The rule of law and the weight of politics: challenges and trajectories 9. Human rights in Afghanistan War 10. Surviving in a war zone: the problem of civilian casualties 11. Pakistan-Afghanistan relations 12. US-Afghanistan relations 13. Talking to the Taliban Conclusion 14. Alternative futures for Afghanistan Index

William Maley is Professor of Diplomacy, Asia-Pacific College of Diplomacy, The Australian National University