The most recent news about Switzerland is good economic news: the Swiss economy is judge to be more competitive than the United States'. A combination of smart, limited economic controls and a much more solid banking system has allowed the Swiss to reward capitalistic actions better than America.
While some underinformed observers may think of Switzerland as just another Western European country, it is very unique for that sector of the world. Decentralized government, functioning multiethnic population, and a conservative tint make Switzerland less like a Western European country and more like a working Afghanistan.
To understand how true this comparison is one must remember two things: 1) both countries are militaristic while practicing a form of isolationism and 2) Afghanistan was not always a basket case.
Membership in the Swiss military is mandatory and there are laws about citizens needing to own weapons. Meanwhile the average Afghan male knows how to use light weaponry with a fair chunk familiar with things ranging from heavy machine guns to anti-tank rockets. The Swiss have adopted a long and well known policy of neutrality. Meanwhile, Afghanistan has been concerned more about internal affairs and repelling foreigners rather than expanding its borders since the downfall of the Durrani Empire. The only exception is the Third Anglo-Afghan War in which the Afghans decided to go home after realizing it was impossible to rally themselves to invade Pakistan.
Since the establishment of a modern Afghanistan, meant to be a buffer between Russia and British India, there has been periodic turmoil but as the governments in Kabul became more established the less civil conflict there was. This is not to say Kabul ran the country, various local mayors and tribal leaders did, but everyone had a place and was generally content with it. During the first half of the Cold War both the USSR and United States gave aid to Afghanistan and help construct modern infrastructure. Social progression was very slow but an educated class was being developed. It was not till the Communist take over and the following Soviet invasion that modern Afghanistan became the war state it is now. This mirrors Switzerland where the various cantons have much more power than the central government in Bern.
There are some differences though that currently hamper Afghanistan becoming the next Switzerland.
Neutrality versus intervention
Various European powers have prized Switzerland for its neutrality. It has been a buffer between powers, a good meeting place for sides whose politics would prevent any other form of communication, and its banking laws have allowed states to realize its better to have an economic partner rather than a unwilling subject. Afghanistan has been a puppet, though throughout much its history. First the Persian, Russian, and British Empires fought to have advantage over each other by holding sway over Afghanistan. Then during and after the Soviet invasion Iran, Pakistan, and various Central Asian countries have favored factions in a long running civil war. The various factions would not have the funding, human capital, or weaponry if it was not for foreign funders.
Nationality
In Switzerland one defines themselves as a Swiss first then by their canton or their canton and then Swiss. Either way both the first choice and the second choice are usually nearly equal. Intra-national alliances are looked down upon. One alliance of German Catholic cantons was destroyed in a civil war by a united Catholic/Protestant alliance who feared the German Catholics were trying to unite against the rest of the country.
In the past Afghans were strongly tribal and ethnic divided yet rallied behind the idea of Afghanistan when foreigners threatened. The civil war has changed that. Now in the Pashtun south tribe is the most important factor with some ignoring Afghanistan and supporting a Pashtunistan that would unite parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Meanwhile the north is ethnic based with people identifying themselves as Tajik, Uzebek, or Hazara first while Afghan is a very distant second (or in the case of the Hazara a far third after ethnicity and political tribe).
How Afghanistan Could Work (Easier Said Than Done)
Afghans have tended to prefer a weak government in Kabul that can provide goods while leaving them alone to allow organic developments in society. Developing a democratic republican system that allows for tribal inputs with most of the control resting in local hands (much like the original intent of the American constitution) with a ethnically shared federal government like Lebanon could appease those who want strong local control yet still desire to have a say in national events. This would also prevent either a Pashtun bloc or everyone-but-Pashtun alliance from dominating the national government. After the anti-Communist forces took Kabul, many Pashtuns who previously cared little about Kabul became alarmed and anti-government because of the new non-Pashtun leadership. Political satisfaction increases when everyone feels they have input into both the local and national levels.
The big step to winning the peace is having Afghanistan's neighbors realize that peace is much more beneficial than war. Afghanistan has perfect geography because it can link oil pipelines in a way that avoids Russia and it can connect Central Asia to the Indian Ocean ports in Pakistan. Also, peace in Afghanistan help Iran and Pakistan return their Afghan refugees back home. The absence of terrorists would also help Uzbekistan, Iran, and Pakistan in ending their insurgency which use(d) Afghanistan as a safe zone.
Afghanistan is not Switzerland and will always have its own culturally unique traits. However, culturally acceptable divisions of governance and neighbors accepting a neutral Afghanistan that should not be unduly swayed could make Afghanistan a sort of Swiss-like state with limited central government control but peaceful.
2 comments:
I have never been to Afghanistan but I did live in Switzerland for 2 years. That doesn't make me an authority but I wonder how you can compare the countries and think that a Swiss government might be the answer.
When I looked at the statistics I can't see many similarities. Switzerland is a wealthy country with almost no unemployment. They are either Catholic or Protestant. Their average life span is almost 2 times that of Afghanistan. The climates are completely different and Afghanistan has almost 5 times the population and 15 times more country to take care. It is true that they are both land locked and the percent of usable land is similar in ratio but I still don't see how you can think that is enough to believe that one government might be able to work just as well in another country. It is just about as ludicrous to think that the US could successfully institute our constitution in Iraq.
The only place I have seen where an automatic weapon could be had in each home with success was in Switzerland. A lot of that has to do with the mentality and the history of the people.
Perhaps you have a point and I need to learn more about Afghanistan, but at this juncture I just do not get any comparison between the two countries.
The History Man
Hi History Man,
Thanks for the comment. I try in the article to stress that "Afghanistan cannot ever be a Switzerland" is not quite true. Granted there are many similarities like Switzerland is working right now.
Talking to some people in Afghanistan there are parts that do ring similar to Switzerland (more true in the east and north). Mountains and allies with a more primitive yet mirroring historical Swiss culture. What throws the physical geography complete match off is the presence of desert in the south.
Afghanistan is also like Switzerland in the sense that the various groups can easily recast themselves when it suits them (Swiss historically have not only had the Catholic v Protestant divide but also German, French, Italian, and Romansh speakers). Neither state has the sense of one, single nationhood.
Also, keep in mind Afghans have long had weaponry in their homes. It is only lately (last 20 or so years) that the violence has gotten out of hand.
I'm not trying to state Afghanistan IS Switzerland. But there are lessons to be learned from Switzerland.
Thanks again for comment!
P.S. The Iraqi constitution is much different than the American one. TDAXP had the pleasure of forming his classes in the Iraqi-style and its division of powers. He can share many interesting stories about the system.
Post a Comment