NationStates Jolt Archive

I heard on BBC news today that there is real concern over the up-coming elections in Afghanistan. Most of the population are illiterate, have no access to media and so have little or no idea as to what's going on. They've lived under dictatorships pretty much since year dot (from warlords to Taliban govts) and have little understanding of the process of democracy. there's fears they'll either not vote, or just vote for whoever the local warlord tells them to.
So this could spell real trouble in the near future. How can you have any form of democracy under these conditions?
So I was thinking, what's wrong with the West basically taking control of the country for, say, the next 20 years and in that time focus on building infrastructure, especially schools. Educate the masses, so by the time the next generation comes out, they'll be literate and fully understanding of democracy and how to apply it. Most people will think that's very patronising towards them (the kindly godmother West looking after the not-too-bright poor Afghans), but I think it's probably the only way we'll have any real chance of peace and democracy there. We were in Japan for years, building their industry up and bringing together a plausible working government.
I feel Iraq's slightly different as they're already a well-educated people. They have slightly different problems, vis a vis competiting factions and peoples (and es I kow Afghanistan has similar tribal factions, but the biggest problem is no education and knowledge of democratically-elected govt).
What do others think?

I like your ideas very much (1st poster) but there are complications

The taliban are gone but the afghans ( a lage majorety anyway) are still semi-religiouse fanatics and you have to untie their enourmouse dedication to islam bafore you can make the nation better and safer..

when i was in san diago, i talked to a few returning US soldiers (who had been there for 2 years working with varouse tribes) and they told us that there is a massivly high suicide rate amoung afghan women from overdoses of heroin or opeum because they lead such miserable lives under the opressive men all over afghanistan (terrable things are done to the women and kids)- under islam you treat your women as you like and generations have grown up to think that.. women's rights are a massive probem. ALso what they told us is that the country isnt held together by the military forces there.. it is heald together by the tribal warlords who have allied themselves with the occupying forces.. for a price.. mainly money.. without these heroin addicted.. aggressive.. fanatical.. warlords afghanistan would turn to civil war again and the country would fall to pieces in the hands of the occupying forces..

these are accounts from american soldier i met from afghanistan.. this is not made up.. rebuilding the nation and to make it civilized would take years.. many years.. i hope it can be done eventually.

I have a coworker who is from there and still has many family memebers there.

The warlord system has been there for quite awhile. And it's not "really" a dictatorship in the true sense of the word as the warlords did look after their people. Think of it more as a clan system.

As to the goings on, they know more then you think. They actually have TVs here and there :eek: ;)

It's bad there is no question about it.

However, there are glimmers of the possibilities. There are freeways going in and one route that took 6 hours, now takes about 45 minutes. Schools are going up.....

"So this could spell real trouble in the near future. How can you have any form of democracy under these conditions?"

Is it more the question of freedom? That includes making stupid choices. People aren't oppressed as much as you think. Many listen to their warlord as he does take care of them.

"So I was thinking, what's wrong with the West basically taking control of the country for, say, the next 20 years and in that time focus on building infrastructure, especially schools. Educate the masses, so by the time the next generation comes out, they'll be literate and fully understanding of democracy and how to apply it."

Think of it like this. Muslims take over your country and force you into an Islamic shool. They are educating you.....

It is not as simple as that. These people have lived in a state of war for 20+ years. It's going to take a generation or two to handle the change.

Also, what are you going to do for an industry? The only possiblities are a piple passing through and there are a couple gem mines. Other then that, nothing.

"We were in Japan for years, building their industry up and bringing together a plausible working government."

That only worked because MacArther understood their thinking. They also wanted to change.

"What do others think?"

If we stay for several years, they will fight. If we "educate" western philosophy, they will fight.

All we should do is stablise the country so the local army and police forces can maintain order and get the hell out. If they want help with stuff, then we can offer it.