Reconstructing War-Torn Societies Afghanistan [Hardcover]

As international attention focuses on the rebuilding of Afghanistan, this collection looks critically at the evolution and meaning of the core concepts underpinning aims and strategies for recovery: the key role of institutional development and capacity building in establishing good governance, based on collaboration between state, civil society and market; the empirical consensus, over many decades, for best practice in development; the acknowledgement that recovery of war-torn societies is a development challenge. It is also shown that, despite this understanding, operational practice continues to contradict these principles and lessons learned from proven experience.Setting the Scene for Afghanistan's Reconstruction: The Challenges and Critical Dilemmas; S.Barakat Theories, Rhetoric and Practice: Recovering the Capacities of War-torn Societies; S.Barakat & M.Chard Aiding Violence or Building Peace? The Role of International Aid in Afghanistan; J.Goodhand Afghans have their Memories: A Reflection on the Recent Experience of Assistance in Afghanistan; C.Johnson & J.Leslie After Bonn: Conflictual Peace Building; A.Suhrke, K.Berg Harpviken & A.Strand The Road Ahead: Political and Institutional Reconstruction in Afghanistan; A.Thier & J.Chopra Exploited by Whom? An Alternative Perspective on Humanitarian Assistance to Afghan Women; S.Barakat & G.Wardell Breaking New Ground: Afghanistan's Response to Landmines and Unexploded Ordnance; K.Berg Harpviken Formal and Informal Disability Resources for Afghan Reconstruction; M.Miles Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration of Former Combatants in Afghanistan: Lessons Learned from a Cross-Cultural Perspective; A.?zerdem Cultural Heritage and National Identity in Afghanistan; N.Hatch Dupree The Composite Approach: Research Design in the Context of War and Armed Conflict; S.Barakat, M.Chard, T.Jacoby & W.LumeKRISTIAN BERG HARPVIKEN Researcher, Department of Sociology and Human Geography, Univeristy ols(