Examining the links between illegal drugs and armed conflicts, Svante E. Cornell (2005:758) suggests that “the interaction […] is more complex than it seems at first glance, but it has important implications for strategies of conflict resolution as well as for counter-narcotics efforts”. It is clear that some of the most illicit drug crops and industries are concentrated in countries, regions and communities where the rule of law is weak and these areas are often characterized by social turmoil, instability and violence (Thoumi 2007: 126); this fact suggests that there is a nexus between illegal drugs and armed conflicts. Regarding this type of link some recent literature suggests that “narcotics extend the duration of conflict” (Cornell 2005: 751). Authors attempting to explain this nexus tend to refer to the concept of “war economies” which highlight the economic incentives as driving forces in contemporary violent conflicts (Cornell 2005: 752). According to John Goodhand (2005:213), “war economy has become a catch-all-phrase which is seen automatically as something negative and predatory”. This simplification is reflected in eradication and drug control efforts based on the discourse of predation and profit without considering the “micro-practices and institutional arrangements” surrounding the illegal drug economies (Goodhand 2005: 213).
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Theoretical framework
2.1. Relation between illegal drugs and armed conflicts
2.2. Some ideas on the casual mechanisms of the relation between illegal drugs and armed conflicts (a vicious circle)
2.3. The transition from war to peace
3. Interaction between illegal drugs and the armed conflict in Afghanistan
3.1. The development of the opium economy in Afghanistan
3.2. Implications
4. The impact of the interaction “illegal drugs and armed conflict in Afghanistan”on the transition from war to peace
5. Looking for a “peace dividend” in Afghanistan
6. Bibliography
Research Objectives and Themes
The primary objective of this paper is to examine the complex nexus between the opium economy and the armed conflict in Afghanistan, specifically addressing the extent to which this relationship influences peacebuilding efforts in the country. The author argues that there is no simple one-way causal link, but rather a permanent interaction where the opium economy fuels conflict, while instability, in turn, stimulates drug production.
- Theoretical analysis of war economies and the crime-rebellion nexus.
- Historical development of the Afghan opium economy and its political dimensions.
- Interplay between local survival strategies and the interests of armed groups.
- Challenges posed by counter-narcotics policies to state-building and peacebuilding.
- The necessity of aligning counter-narcotics strategies with broader peacebuilding goals.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1. The development of the opium economy in Afghanistan
For hundreds of years the opium poppy cultivation has been present in Afghanistan, although one could not speak of an “opium tradition” in contrast to India, Iran and other parts of Asia (UNDOC 2003: 87- 88). Nevertheless, it was only since the armed confrontations that followed the Soviet intervention in 1979 when the opium poppy cultivation started to acquire significance. From 19 % in 1980 it went to 41.68 % of the world opium output in 1990 (Thoumi 2007: 128).
This increase in the cultivation of poppy is explained, according to Thoumi (2007: 128), by a combination of the following factors: a) the need for sources to finance the war against the Soviets by the Mujahedeen opposing group, b)increase in smuggling caused by weak state control, c) destruction of the rural subsistence economy through counterinsurgency that forced the peasants to cultivate poppy as means of sustenance and d) the demand by the Pakistani army’s secret service to generate resources and in this way finance the Kashmir rebels in India. With the Soviet intervention, the Afghan government lost control over certain provinces of the country where other sources of authority began to appear (Warlords, Commanders) that additionally required financial sources (Rubin 2000: 1792). The east-west conflict also made its contribution to the development of the drug economy. The USA sacrificed the war on drugs to fight the Cold War by supporting smuggling and opium in order to raise money for the Afghan resistance.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter defines the research scope, outlining the complex nexus between illegal drugs and armed conflict and introducing the central research question regarding the impact on peacebuilding in Afghanistan.
2. Theoretical framework: This section presents academic approaches, including the "economics and conflict" and "crime-rebellion nexus" models, to explain how drugs fuel conflicts and transition processes.
3. Interaction between illegal drugs and the armed conflict in Afghanistan: This chapter explores the historical development of the opium economy in Afghanistan and analyzes its broad implications for the country's social and political structures.
4. The impact of the interaction “illegal drugs and armed conflict in Afghanistan”on the transition from war to peace: This section evaluates how current counter-narcotics measures affect peacebuilding and warns against policies that ignore the economic realities of the local population.
5. Looking for a “peace dividend” in Afghanistan: The final chapter synthesizes the findings and suggests that achieving sustainable peace requires a transition from an "opium war economy" to a "peace economy" through multi-stakeholder engagement.
Keywords
Afghanistan, Opium economy, Armed conflict, Peacebuilding, War economies, Crime-rebellion nexus, Counter-narcotics, Warlordism, State-building, Human development, Poppy cultivation, Conflict resolution, Narcotics, Taliban, Peace dividend.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper examines the interactive relationship between illegal opium production, the ongoing armed conflict in Afghanistan, and how this nexus influences prospects for peacebuilding and state stability.
What are the primary themes discussed?
Key themes include the political economy of war, the role of war economies (combat, shadow, and coping economies), the impact of eradication policies, and the challenges of integrating diverse actors into a peaceful state structure.
What is the central research question?
The study specifically asks to what extent the relationship between the opium economy and the war in Afghanistan affects the country's peacebuilding process.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The author uses a qualitative approach, synthesizing theoretical frameworks—primarily from Svante E. Cornell, Jonathan Goodhand, and Klaus Schlichte—with empirical data and reports on the Afghan opium economy.
What does the main body of the text cover?
It covers the theoretical grounding, a detailed historical overview of the opium economy in Afghanistan from the Soviet intervention onwards, and a critical reflection on how current international counter-narcotics efforts may inadvertently hinder peace.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
Keywords include Afghanistan, Opium economy, Armed conflict, Peacebuilding, War economies, and Counter-narcotics.
How did the Taliban's approach to the opium economy change over time?
The Taliban initially benefited from the opium trade to gain support, but later implemented a total ban in 2000 for religious and legitimacy reasons, which ultimately caused significant social discontent.
Why does the author argue that "winning the war on drugs" is complex?
Because the opium economy is deeply integrated into the survival strategies of the rural population and the political structures of local actors, meaning simple eradication can destabilize the region and alienate the population from the state.
What role does the "peace dividend" play in this analysis?
The "peace dividend" represents the necessary incentives to make peace more profitable than war for all actors involved, serving as a vital element for any successful transition project.
- Quote paper
- Andrés Home (Author), 2008, Illegal drugs, armed conflict and peacebuilding in Afghanistan, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/124852
