This thesis focuses on the role that external actors play in rebuilding one crucial issue that is at stake in these contexts, which is the legitimacy of post conflict political systems. The analysis will take into account the strategies and programs implemented by external forces specifically by intervening in three key areas: transitional governments, constitution-building processes and elections. The case study analyzed in this thesis is the Afghan one, particularly complex but fundamental to understand the strategies that these actors adopt in such contexts, and the results that can be achieved in countries that recover from conflict. After providing a theoretical framework concerning democratization and its features in war-torn countries, the analysis of the Afghan case will take into account the three areas mentioned above in order to evaluate the impact of external actors in rebuilding legitimacy in the country.
Historically, democratization processes have always attracted the attention of scholars and practitioners. However, one case of particular relevance, especially starting from the end of the Cold War, has attracted increasing attention, that is the one of countries that went through violent conflict and start their transition to democracy and peace from a situation of violence and instability. In such scenarios, often external actors, notably the United Nations, intervene with the aim of supporting the transition towards democratic and peaceful assets. However, the outcomes of these interventions are often mixed.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- INTRODUCTION
- DEMOCRATIZATION: A THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
- Understanding democratic transitions: theories and features
- War-torn countries: how to democratize?
- Post conflict challenges
- EXTERNAL DEMOCRACY PROMOTION IN WAR-TORN COUNTRIES
- Understanding the context
- External-led democratization of post conflict settings
- External democracy-building strategies
- EXTERNAL ACTORS' ROLE IN RESTORING POST CONFLICT LEGITIMACY
- Understanding legitimacy
- Legitimacy in post conflict states
- Transitional governments
- Constitution-building
- Elections
- INTERNATIONAL DEMOCRACY-BUILDING IN AFGHANISTAN: THE NARRATIVE OF A LEGITIMACY FAILURE?
- Expectations versus reality?
- Historical framework
- Towards democratization: transitional government
- Constitution building
- Post conflict elections
- Assessing the external actors' role in democratizing Afghanistan
- 2005-2019: assessing the prospects for democracy in the post transitional phase
- Concluding remarks
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This book examines the role of external actors in promoting democracy in post-conflict states, focusing on the challenges of rebuilding legitimacy in war-torn societies. It delves into the complexities of democratization processes, particularly in the context of conflict and the subsequent efforts to establish stable and sustainable political institutions.
- The theoretical framework of democratization
- External democracy promotion strategies
- The significance of legitimacy in post-conflict settings
- The role of external actors in promoting legitimacy
- The case study of Afghanistan and the challenges of external intervention in democratization
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Chapter 1: Democratization: A Theoretical Framework introduces the reader to key concepts and theories surrounding democratic transitions. It explores the economic and international factors influencing these processes and examines the specific challenges posed by war-torn countries, including issues of "stateness," security, and political transition.
- Chapter 2: External Democracy Promotion in War-Torn Countries delves into the historical context of external involvement in post-conflict democratization, focusing on the motivations and strategies of key actors. The chapter analyzes different approaches to democracy promotion and explores the literature on external-led democratization in post-conflict settings.
- Chapter 3: External Actors' Role in Restoring Post Conflict Legitimacy examines the crucial role of legitimacy in post-conflict states, exploring different theoretical perspectives and the specific challenges of establishing legitimacy in transitional governments. The chapter analyzes the complexities of constitution-building and elections in post-conflict environments.
- Chapter 4: International Democracy-Building in Afghanistan: The Narrative of a Legitimacy Failure? delves into the case study of Afghanistan, examining the expectations, challenges, and outcomes of international efforts to promote democracy in the country. The chapter analyzes the historical context, the establishment of the transitional government, the constitution-building process, and the post-conflict elections, highlighting the role of external actors in shaping the Afghan democratization process.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The book focuses on the themes of post-conflict democratization, external actors, legitimacy, state-building, transitional governments, constitution-building, elections, and the case study of Afghanistan. It examines the complexities of promoting democracy in war-torn societies and analyzes the challenges and opportunities for external actors in this process.
- Citation du texte
- Alessia Rossinotti (Auteur), 2020, Post Conflict Democratization. The Role of External Actors in Rebuilding Legitimacy and the Example of Afghanistan, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/942999
