Afghanistan's Continuing Fiscal Crisis: No End In Sight

Afghanistan's Continuing Fiscal Crisis: No End In Sight

Friday, May 15, 2015

By: William A. Byrd

For several years, Afghanistan’s economy and public finances have worsened, culminating in a full-blown fiscal crisis in 2014. Political uncertainties, the weakening Afghan economy, corruption in tax collection, stagnant government revenues, and increasing expenditures have contributed to the current fiscal impasse.  In the absence of bold actions by the Afghan government along with proactive international support to turn around the fiscal situation, the fiscal crisis and its insidious effect...

Type: Peace Brief

EnvironmentDemocracy & GovernanceEconomics

Supporting Afghan Women in the 2014 Transition

Supporting Afghan Women in the 2014 Transition

Thursday, February 26, 2015

By: Amy Calfas

The 2014 elections in Afghanistan saw great promise for advancing the status of women, with unprecedented voter turnout among women and powerful rhetoric from presidential candidates. As the new administration sets its agenda, this report offers guidelines for Afghan leaders to fulfill their campaign promises by strengthening women’s political participation, access to justice, and involvement in the security sector. 

Type: Peace Brief

GenderDemocracy & Governance

Forging Afghanistan’s National Unity Government

Forging Afghanistan’s National Unity Government

Friday, January 16, 2015

By: Ali Jalali

Afghanistan’s presidential election was resolved by a U.S.-brokered deal that led, ultimately, to a power-sharing arrangement within the new national unity government. This has set up tensions within the government—even as Afghanistan’s leaders face an uncertain political, economic, and security situation across the country, as international financial and military support draws down. The formation of the new government, however, also presents opportunities for serious reforms of Afghanistan’s...

Type: Peace Brief

Democracy & GovernanceEnvironmentJustice, Security & Rule of LawEconomics

Exploitation of Mineral Resources in Afghanistan

Exploitation of Mineral Resources in Afghanistan

Monday, December 1, 2014

By: William A. Byrd & Javed Noorani

Mining companies in Afghanistan are wantonly exploiting the country’s mineral resources with little or no taxes and royalties going to the government. Contracting of mines has been susceptible to political influence, there is little accountability and sometimes conflicts with local communities have led to violence and deaths. This Peace Brief examines these problems and offers some recommendations to improve the situation.

Type: Peace Brief

EnvironmentEconomics

How to Spur Afghan Reforms: The Limits and Benefits of Incentives

How to Spur Afghan Reforms: The Limits and Benefits of Incentives

Thursday, November 20, 2014

By: Trent Ruder

Although not a magic bullet, incentive programming can help shape dialogue with the new Afghan administration. What are incentive programs? How do issues such as stakeholder participation, Afghan capacity and consequences of success or failure affect policy decisions for incentive programs? In addressing these questions, this PeaceBrief points the way to more effective incentive programming.

Type: Peace Brief

EnvironmentEconomics

Pakistan’s Resurgent Sectarian War

Pakistan’s Resurgent Sectarian War

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

By: Arif Rafiq

The violence across the Middle East has energized sectarian militant networks on both sides of the conflict in Pakistan. This report gives an overview of the history of conflict between Sunni Deobandi and Shia militant and political organizations in Pakistan and offers warnings about further radicalization there and its effects on the politics of the state.

Type: Peace Brief

ReligionJustice, Security & Rule of Law

Licensing Afghan Opium for Medicinal Use

Licensing Afghan Opium for Medicinal Use

Thursday, September 25, 2014

By: William A. Byrd;  David Mansfield

Opium production continues to increase in Afghanistan, but there are no easy, one-dimensional solutions to this problem. Afghanistan unfortunately will not be able to join the small group of countries that produce licit opium for medicinal purposes. The opium it currently produces is both illegal and high-cost. Trying to introduce licit production runs the risk that large-scale illicit production will continue in parallel. In the long term, it is unlikely that Afghanistan could compete in the...

Type: Peace Brief

Justice, Security & Rule of Law

Creating Spaces for Effective CVE Approaches

Creating Spaces for Effective CVE Approaches

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Unlike other counterterrorism strategies, countering violent extremism (CVE) focuses on preventing individuals from being recruited into or joining violent extremist groups. CVE is a complex endeavor, largely because the reasons individuals become involved in extremist violence are in themselves complex and the dynamics are unique to each conflict. Using Kenya as an example, and drawing on observations from a recent visit, the author explores how promoting a more nuanced understanding of radi...

Type: Peace Brief

Conflict Analysis & PreventionViolent Extremism

Afghanistan’s Looming Fiscal Crisis: What Can Be Done?

Afghanistan’s Looming Fiscal Crisis: What Can Be Done?

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

By: William A. Byrd

Afghanistan faces a fiscal crisis due in large part to worsening domestic revenue shortfalls. Averting this crisis will require strong leadership from the new Afghan government that will be replacing the Karzai administration. The country’s revenue system and collections need to be improved, corruption reduced, new revenue sources developed and expenditures cut. More international aid also is needed to help stabilize Afghanistan’s budget as the government undertakes these reforms.

Type: Peace Brief

EnvironmentEconomics

Maximizing the Impact of Aid to Pakistan: Leverage Reform and Local Capacity

Maximizing the Impact of Aid to Pakistan: Leverage Reform and Local Capacity

Monday, July 28, 2014

By: Richard Albright

Overcoming Pakistan's many challenges, and meeting the development needs of its people, requires working through the institutions of Pakistani governance if sustainable impacts are to be achieved. U.S. aid, if offered consistently and in support of systemic institutional reform, can have a valuable catalytic role to assist and incentivize these efforts.

Type: Peace Brief

EnvironmentEconomics