Reconstruction: A Critical Assessment

Abstract

This chapter explores the politics of reconstruction. Reconstruction is a multidimensional process, with multiple points of focus. First, there is a political dimension. It is tempting to conflate the idea of reconstruction simply with that of statebuilding, since very often (and certainly in the case of Afghanistan) the substantial collapse of a pre-existing state forms a large part of the story of disruption more broadly. Second, there is a legal dimension. An orderly society is one in which rules provide a basis for relatively stable expectations of the future, on which individuals can base their own decision making. Third is an economic dimension. Reconstruction that does not position ordinary people to function as effective economic agents is likely to be marred by the spectacle of local or even mass destitution. Fourth is a social dimension. Decades of war tend to alter the consciousness of different social groups defined by criteria such as gender and ethnicity. Show more