Institutionalized intervention: the ‘bunker politics’ of international aid in Afghanistan

Weigand, Florian ORCID: 0000-0003-2629-0934 and Andersson, Ruben (2019) Institutionalized intervention: the ‘bunker politics’ of international aid in Afghanistan. Journal of Intervention and Statebuilding, 13 (4). pp. 503-523. ISSN 1750-2977

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Abstract

Afghanistan has come to be seen as emblematic of the security threats besetting peace and security operations, and in this article we consider the response to such threats via the ‘bunkering’ of international staff. Drawing on an in-depth qualitative survey with aid and peacebuilding officials in Kabul, we illustrate how seemingly mundane risk management procedures have negative consequences for intervening institutions; for the relation between interveners and national actors; and for the purpose of intervention itself. Bunkering, we argue, is deeply political–‘imprisoning’ staff behind ramparts while generating an illusion of presence and control for ill-conceived modes of international intervention.

Item Type:	Article
Official URL:	https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/risb20/current
Additional Information:	© 2019 The Authors
Divisions:	Social Policy
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HM Sociology J Political Science > JA Political science (General)
Date Deposited:	07 Jan 2019 16:33
Last Modified:	25 Oct 2024 02:15
Projects:	ES/J500070/1, ES/S010858/1
Funders:	Economic & Social Research Council, AXA Research Fund
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/91548

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