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03/2003
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Against the economy of violence
Afghanistan: no development without government and civil society
"Afghanistan: from economy of violence to economic reconstruction" was the title of a symposium at the Centre for Development Research (ZEF) in Bonn on January 21. About 30 participants from NGOs, government development organisations and the research field discussed how the cycle of violence on the Hindu Kush could be broken and the basis for civil economic development laid. In his keynote address, Conrad Schetter (ZEF) expressed the view that only the restoration of the state's monopoly of power and the participation of all important actors in reconstruction could point the way out of the all-pervasive business with violence in Afghanistan.
Mark Sedra, of the Bonn International Center for Conversion (BICC), argued for a differentiated dealing with the Afghan warlords. A distinction must be made between "total spoilers" and "partial spoilers", he said. Whereas coercion must be applied against the first category of warlords, an attempt must be made to turn the "partial spoilers" into supporters of the new government. Opinions differed, of course, on how that could be achieved. Money alone was not enough, as had been made clear in Somalia. In Tajikistan, "partial spoilers" had been integrated in the government. But some participants expressed doubts whether the prospect of government posts in Kabul would tempt the Afghan warlords out of their local strongholds. Satisfaction of the basic needs of the Afghan people throughout the country and establishment of security and trust was seen as the most promising way to deprive the warlords of their recruits.
Masud Karokhail, of the Afghan Civil Society Forum, focused on economic reconstruction in Afghanistan. He criticised the donor countries for placing too much weight on emergency aid and neglecting long-term investment. The Afghan side lacked the institutional capacities necessary to absorb the aid, he said. For quite some time to come, he added, only donor-financed, labour-intensive infrastructure projects could create the jobs needed to integrate demobilised combatants in civil life. For the development of an indigenous trade and industry, a stable government, transparency and a functioning banking system were indispensable – as well as a sensible legal framework for NGOs. Under the present system it was easier and more rewarding to found a NGO than to obtain a trade licence.
Susanne Schmeidl, of Swiss Peace, took a closer look at Afghan civil society and concluded that in the western sense there was practically no such thing at present. She said most NGOs were structured along clientele lines, pursued particularistic interests, and were obstacles to rather than instruments for collective action. Besides strengthening the government, Schmeidl added, it was imperative to establish a public space in Afghanistan in which social and communicative competencies could be fostered. Such a space would be also be important for the preparations for the country's elections planned for 2004. Masud Karokhail made clear, however, that at present the Afghan people did not have especially great expectations of the election.
Stefanie Elbern, Conrad Schetter
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