Giustozzi, Antonio (2009) The eye of the storm: cities in the vortex of Afghanistan's civil wars. Crisis States Research Centre working papers series 2 (62). Crisis States Research Centre, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK.
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Abstract
In this paper Afghanistan expert Antonio Giustozzi examines the turbulent relationship between cities, local leaders and 'warlords'. He explores how this has affected the emergence of states and the re-establishment of state-like polities in the country. The author takes an urban perspective on the conflict in Afghanistan and provides an overview of the evolution of urban-rural relationships, the role of armed groups and the impact of non-state actors and foreign intervention on Afghanistan's civil wars. He concludes that in periods of state weakness or disintegration, the domination of cities over rural areas, or vice-versa, was fluid until 2001 when foreign intervention re-empowered the cities and encouraged the urban elites to distance themselves from village-based power groups. This research suggest that, although close collaboration between cities and powerful rural warlords was not realised in Afghanistan, some form of cooperation did exist. This cooperation indicates there was the potential to bring about a monopoly of violence, professional skills and resources, all of which have been essential components for the emergence of states in many regions of the world. This paper raises important and difficult questions regarding the impact of foreign intervention on processes of state integration and highlights the need to consider more closely the possibility of different outcomes if foreign intervention did not occur.
| Item Type: | Monograph (Working Paper) |
|---|---|
| Official URL: | http://www.crisisstates.com/Publications/publicati... |
| Additional Information: | © 2009 A. Giustozzi |
| Divisions: | International Development |
| Subjects: | H Social Sciences > HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform J Political Science > JQ Political institutions Asia J Political Science > JS Local government Municipal government |
| Date Deposited: | 27 May 2010 12:54 |
| Last Modified: | 15 Sep 2023 23:16 |
| URI: | http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/28123 |
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