Winning hearts and minds? : examining the relationship between aid and security in Afghanistan’s Faryab province / Geert Gompelman.

Cover title.

“January 2011”.

“Feinstein International Center”—at head of title.

“Strengthening the humanity and dignity of people in crisis through knowledge and practice”—cover page.

“Tufts University

Gerald J. and Dorothy R., Friedman school of nutrition science and policy”—cover page.

Contents: glossary of non-English terms—Acronyms—I. Executive summary—1. Introduction—2. Research methodology—3. Contextual analysis—4. Perceived drivers of insecurity—5. Aid projects and aid actors—local stabilization initiatives : peace and reconciliation association—7. Ghormach district case study—8. Conclusions.

Summary: “The case study of Faryab Province is part of a larger comparative study that looks into the assumed causal relationship between development aid and stabilization in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the Horn of Africa. The assumptions that development aid can help win “hearts and minds,” help increase the legitimacy of the Afghan government, and reduce the levels of violence have become key parts of the international effort in Afghanistan. Globally, the assumption that aid projects lead to improved security has resulted in a sharp increase in overall development funding, an increase in the percentage of activities based on strategic considerations, and an increased involvement of military actors in development activities. Little evidence exists, however, that such programming has been successful at achieving stabilization or security objectives. The present study therefore seeks to question some of the assumptions by looking at evidence from the field. Faryab is one of five provincial case studies that make up the overall Afghanistan aid and security study. The other four are Balkh, Helmand, Paktia, and Uruzgan”—(p. 2).