Nation-building
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Nation-building refers to the process of constructing or structuring a nation using the power of the state. This process aims at the unification of the people or peoples within the state so that it remains politically stable and viable in the long run. Nation-building can involve the use of propaganda or major infrastructure development to foster social harmony and economic growth. It has been succinctly described as "the use of armed force in the aftermath of a conflict to underpin an enduring transition to democracy." [1] (http://www.rand.org/publications/randreview/issues/summer2003/nation1.html)
Examples of nation-building include the Marshall Plan and the current occupation of Iraq by the United States and United Kingdom.
The United States itself went through a process of nation-building after the Civil War to reconstruct the South. This process lasted close to a century, only finally culminating in the Civil Rights movement of the 1960's.
Nation-building requires a devotion of money and military efforts, but most importantly it requires time. In the nation-building efforts of Germany and Japan following WWII and more recent efforts in Kosovo, Haiti and Somalia in the 1990's it is evident that a successful nation-building project requires years, the average time close to seven years.
James Dobbins served as U.S. special envoy for Somalia, Haiti, Bosnia, Kosovo, and Afghanistan, which he cites as the most important instances in which American military power has been used in the aftermath of a conflict to underpin democratization in the post World War II era -- along with Germany and Japan.
According to Dobbins, the greatest factor influencing successful nation building is "the level of effort, as measured in troops, money, and time." He also asserts that multilateral nation-building takes more time than a unilateral approach. He says it can produce "more thorough transformations and greater regional reconciliation", but only "when the major participants share a common vision".
Dobbins says that the bigger the occupying force, the fewer the postwar casualties. If this holds true for Iraq, then the announced force reductions by Spain and Poland will increase the violence there, thus impeding postwar reconstruction. Many critics consider nation building to be a euphemism for colonialism. A wave of genocidal warfare against Guatemalan natives in the 1980s was advanced under the guise of nation building. Leaders who advocate nation building often embrace fundamentalist Christian ideologies.
Other points he makes are:
- It is nearly impossible to put together a fragmented nation if its neighbors try to tear it apart. Every effort should be made to secure their support.
- Accountability for past injustices can be a powerful component of democratization, but should be attempted only if there is a deep and long-term commitment to the overall operation.
- It can't be done quickly: "None of our cases was successfully completed in less than seven years."
Opposition to nation-building was one of the planks George W. Bush's campaign in 2000. He has since revised this position.
See also
Links
- Nation-building: The Inescapable Responsibility of the World's Only Superpower (http://www.rand.org/publications/randreview/issues/summer2003/nation1.html) - RAND Corporation study