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Building Democracy in Afghanistan

March 9, 2009

http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2009/03/afghanistan_democracy.html

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“Is it possible to see the emergence of a viable democratic state in Afghanistan,

or not?” Afghan Foreign Minister Dr. Rangin Dadfar Spanta asked at a Center for

American Progress event on February 26. At the event, Spanta focused on

whether democracy was possible in Afghanistan and what strategies could aid in

the democratization process.

Rudy deLeon, Senior Vice President of National Security and International Policy

at the Center, moderated the discussion. deLeon noted that the Obamaadministration is currently grappling with serious challenges in Afghanistan, as it

attempts to conduct a major review of American strategy, which is expected to

be released in conjunction with the upcoming 60th anniversary summit of the

NATO alliance in April. Spanta praised the administration for bringing his

government and its neighbor Pakistan into the discussion; forging a

comprehensive strategy for building a prosperous and democratic Afghanistan

“is a very serious matter,” he said, and “a matter of the future of my country.”

 The massive constitutional, executive, and parliamentary changes that have

occurred in the country in the last seven years can serve as evidence of 

democratic advancement, Spanta said. And the more than 500 newspapers, 20

private television channels, 80-90 radio stations, and numerous interest groups—

especially women’s—are all pushing Afghanistan toward democratization. These

media outlets continue to be key to engaging the public and overcoming the

hurdles of the past. “Democracy,” commented Dr. Spanta, “is not only desirable

for Afghan people; it is a necessity in order to overcome the fundamentalist

legacy.”

Spanta noted that international forces have been deployed for more than seven

years in Afghanistan, and he recognized the service and sacrifice American men

and women have made there. Despite these efforts, he acknowledged, the

 Taliban-led insurgency remains a serious threat to the country, and he urged the

United States, its allies, and other regional partners not to abandon the efforts

for a "reductionist" approach.

Progress in Afghanistan, Spanta argued, will require a comprehensive strategythat emphasizes "security, sustainable development, and good governance."

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With respect to sustainability, he emphasized that Afghanistan’s environment

was significantly affected by war and by climate change, and efforts would need

to be made to repair environmental problems such as fighting drought and

rebuilding worn infrastructure.

Acknowledging that corruption in Afghan institutions will need to be addressed,

Spanta reported that while “last year 621 mid-level and senior officials have

been prosecuted or fired, including administrators, governors, and an

ambassador, Afghanistan will continue to confront administrative corruption.”

He made clear that the major issue in the fight against corruption and terrorism

in the country is the cultivation and trafficking of drugs, despite a 19-percent

reduction in poppy production last year. Spanta pointed to the necessity of government strength in dealing with drug-related problems. “If you want to get

rid of poppy cultivation,” he stressed, “the capability of the Afghan government

must be strengthened across Afghanistan.”

A broader security approach among U.S., NATO, and Pakistani colleagues would

be needed, Spanta said, and Pakistan’s huge population and nuclear power make

it the greatest potential danger to peace in the region. He stressed that, “If 

Pakistan became a failed state it would be serious not only for the U.S. and

Afghanistan but for the entire region.” Afghanistan is committed to a strongerrelationship with Pakistan based on trust and built on joint negotiations with the

new civilian government, and he encouraged the United States and its allies to

find commonality with Pakistan.

Spanta concluded by saying that, “as we have discussed on many occasions,

democratization [in Afghanistan] is vital today and in the future.” While

democracy is universally applicable and Afghan citizens are ready to accept

constitutional government and modern values, Spanta cautioned that “it

[democratization] is not a project that can be exported or given: It takes time to

develop and to flourish.”