Political Transition in Afghanistan:The State, Islam and Civil Society part 1

Middle East Program
Asia Program
With the adoption of a new constitution in January 2004, presidential and parliamentary elections slated for September 2004, and a new round of funding pledged in Berlin, Afghanistan is at a critical turning point in its political development. But myriad challenges remain. Narco-trafficking and warlord rivalry are on the rise and the U.S. has launched a spring offensive against Al Qaeda and Taliban militants still challenging Hamid Karzai's grip on the country. Weak and under-funded central state institutions and nascent civil society are still major obstacles to bringing peace and prosperity to the country. The Wilson Center's Asia and Middle East Programs sponsored a half-day conference in order to explore the current situation in Afghanistan and the prospects for stability and political transformation.
H.E. Said Tayeb Jawad, Afghan Ambassador to the United States;
William Maley, Australian National University; Thomas Barfield, Boston University; Sima Wali, Refugee Women in Development; Neamat Nojumi, Harvard Law School; Marvin Weinbaum, Middle East Institute

[@tomcolley9008]

Imagine spending 20 years and trillions of dollars to replace the Taliban with the Taliban. When I screw up at work I think of this….

[@CIARUNSITE]

Thinking about how some incompetent person in the government is making a few hundred grand a year to screw up and make the world worse isn't going to accomplish much. I wish I could stop thinking about how many people earn so much by doing so little.

[@ourvaluesarewhoweareinadem4093]

@ 24:24 "In conclusion there are no quick and easy solutions in Aghanistan." 15 years, $2trillion, and thousands of lives later is seems that there are no slow and difficult solutions either.

[@azazel688]

49:39 to 49:52 a warning that was never heeded by the international community, Professor Thomas Barfield was right! outside interference by Pakistan’s ISI has brought the Taliban back to power, conflict between radical groups is also occurring, with the Taliban at loggerheads with the Haqqani Network and ISIS-K. Afghanistan has slipped back into darkness once more, I hope that one day Afghanistan rises again like the sun at dawn, emanating a light that will guide it’s people towards peace and prosperity. Long live Afghanistan! 🇦🇫

[@CIARUNSITE]

Lighting up the country with airstrikes and drones isn't a substitute for the sun even if the US military sees no difference.

[@ourvaluesarewhoweareinadem4093]

Gay pride butt sex and 2000 pound GPS guided bombs are not a sunrise broseph. However, the stability and legitimacy of a renewed Taliban government might be the first glimmering of dawn.

[@thegreatest1176]

@@ourvaluesarewhoweareinadem4093 suicide b0mbing and sharia law will bring prosperity I am sure

[@mr.fantastic7756]

Democracy is not the end all be all

[@nurlybekz9762]

Now Taliban, back to the future.

[@enaiatalizadeh4620]

Now Covic19

[@dawnhirsh6263]

Well, Dr. Barfield says that there is no ideology in Afghanistan, but here we are, the Taliban is back.

[@daves456]

He does not say there is no ideology, he says the people have shifting ideology and ideology is used as a pretext for tribal conflicts and getting bribes from outside countries.

[@tralalalashalalal]

@@daves456 yup. which is exactly the case. weird that the decision makers tend to be blind to stuff like this.

[@علي-ش7ث8ب]

@@daves456 Ideology is always a pretext Americans also use democracy and human rights for getting money and control it's a human thing after .As a muslim it gives me immense sadness to see Islam being used in politics in this way and what makes me more sad is people who think that Taliban ,alquaeda and ISIS are the representatives of Islam

[@علي-ش7ث8ب]

@@tralalalashalalal decision makers are doing the same thing Taliban is doing my friend money and power the difference Taliban are doing it in the name of tribelism and Isalm while others are donig it in the name of the modern state and democracy

[@daves456]

@@علي-ش7ث8ب unfortunaly most people in the west don't know the first thing about that region of the world, it's history, it's culture and religion and many people here think everyone there are talibans and terrorists that want to bring their way of life in the west, so they are afraid of them.