An Autumn 2011 Quarterly Release Featured Essay
by Elmira Cheremisova (St. Petersburg, Russian Federation)
Edited for English language and linguistics by Associate Editor Nicholas Prephan and Director Matthew Bishop
ABSTRACT:
The ongoing civil conflict in Afghanistan has been much discussed by contemporary scholars and researchers. Most of them suggest various recommendations of what could be done to stop the war. However it still remains unclear why, after the operation lasting for more than 10 years, Afghanistan is still seen as “The Residence of Evil”. Attempting to fill the gap in previous studies, this research looks deeply into the technical side of the current UN-NATO operation in Afghanistan. Civil-military dialogue of the UN and NATO is examined in detail to reveal shortcomings in the operation’s strategic planning. All statistical analysis show that both the UN and NATO fail to achieve their own goals. There is hardly any improvement in the social, economic and political situation in the country. At the same time progress is not possible without reliable armed forces able to prevent and to contain insurgency. The National Afghan Army is the crucial body that is to maintain law and order throughout Afghanistan if the international coalition withdraws. Nevertheless statistical analysis shows that currently it fully depends on International Security Assistance Forces. This was concluded as the key factor for ISAF’s permanent presence in Afghanistan. The specific feature of this research is that it is based not only on academic but also on professional military literature. Officers’ handbooks and field manuals for planning and conducting military operations have been used to figure out theoretical concepts and analyze the nature of coordination between the UN and NATO during the operation.
The author is grateful to Dr. Darya Pushkina (Professor of International Relations, Associate Dean for International Students, Bard College and St.Petersburg State University) for invaluable help and advice while doing this research.
BIO:
Elmira Cheremisova is a M.A. student at Saint Petersburg State University (Russian Federation) in a joint program with Bard College (U.S.A.). She got her B.A. degree majoring in International Relations and Linguistics. Her research interests while studying International Relations have been primarily concentrated on the study of Conflict Resolution and Middle Eastern Studies. Currently she is working on a dissertation entitled “Democracy in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan” which analyzes the peculiarities of democratization in Afghanistan.
by Elmira Cheremisova (St. Petersburg, Russian Federation)
Edited for English language and linguistics by Associate Editor Nicholas Prephan and Director Matthew Bishop
ABSTRACT:
The ongoing civil conflict in Afghanistan has been much discussed by contemporary scholars and researchers. Most of them suggest various recommendations of what could be done to stop the war. However it still remains unclear why, after the operation lasting for more than 10 years, Afghanistan is still seen as “The Residence of Evil”. Attempting to fill the gap in previous studies, this research looks deeply into the technical side of the current UN-NATO operation in Afghanistan. Civil-military dialogue of the UN and NATO is examined in detail to reveal shortcomings in the operation’s strategic planning. All statistical analysis show that both the UN and NATO fail to achieve their own goals. There is hardly any improvement in the social, economic and political situation in the country. At the same time progress is not possible without reliable armed forces able to prevent and to contain insurgency. The National Afghan Army is the crucial body that is to maintain law and order throughout Afghanistan if the international coalition withdraws. Nevertheless statistical analysis shows that currently it fully depends on International Security Assistance Forces. This was concluded as the key factor for ISAF’s permanent presence in Afghanistan. The specific feature of this research is that it is based not only on academic but also on professional military literature. Officers’ handbooks and field manuals for planning and conducting military operations have been used to figure out theoretical concepts and analyze the nature of coordination between the UN and NATO during the operation.
The author is grateful to Dr. Darya Pushkina (Professor of International Relations, Associate Dean for International Students, Bard College and St.Petersburg State University) for invaluable help and advice while doing this research.
BIO:
Elmira Cheremisova is a M.A. student at Saint Petersburg State University (Russian Federation) in a joint program with Bard College (U.S.A.). She got her B.A. degree majoring in International Relations and Linguistics. Her research interests while studying International Relations have been primarily concentrated on the study of Conflict Resolution and Middle Eastern Studies. Currently she is working on a dissertation entitled “Democracy in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan” which analyzes the peculiarities of democratization in Afghanistan.
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