IS NATION BUILDING DEAD?
Loading...
Authors
Webb, Nathaniel C.
Subjects
Afghanistan
nation-building
United States
nation-building
United States
Advisors
Hafez, Mohammed M.
Date of Issue
2022-09
Date
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
This thesis explores the recent nation-building failure experienced by the United States in Afghanistan and compares it to the nation-building success achieved by the UN in Namibia. The comparison shows that nation-building success does not depend only on the actions of foreign actors, but also on the will of the target country and surrounding territories. This thesis shows that an in-depth study of Namibia by UN officials allowed for efficient and effective operations inside the country. These operations were helped along by a desire for change shared by the Namibian people and an agreed-upon and enforced ceasefire between Namibia and South Africa. The operation in Afghanistan lacked all of these key necessities and therefore struggled to unite the people or even understand what it was the people desired. In order to succeed in future nation-building operations, the United States should refrain from attempting nation-building in a kinetic environment and only begin once a firm understanding of the environment and the goals have been achieved.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
National Security Affairs (NSA)
Organization
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.