Corruption in Afghanistan - Somebody Else's Problem?
Abstract
Coalition objectives of strengthening Afghanistan's security forces and government are challenged daily in Afghanistan by corruption. Relatively large amounts of U.S. and foreign aid intended to help restore stability to Afghanistan may do just the opposite. Malign actors have learned how to access billions of dollars of economic and military aid each year. Ironically, many of these funds end up directly supporting organizations that oppose U.S. and NATO interests. In fact, despite significant efforts to improve security and governance in Afghanistan, perceptions of corruption have grown significantly. Many suggest that current efforts and strategy may be making the issue of corruption worse. After three decades of war, current reports show that Afghanistan is one of the poorest and least developed countries in the world. It is also one of the most corrupt. With spiraling unemployment and more than half the country living below the poverty line, making a difference in a dilemma like corruption will require many difficult decisions. This paper considers the impact of corruption on our overall strategy for Afghanistan and investigates efficient ways to shape our policy for combating corruption.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 18, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA543829
Entities
People
- John T. Smith
Organizations
- United States Army War College