Afghanistan State Building

Afghanistan State Building Introduction Since its independence from British in 1919, Afghanistan has had a turbulence history characterized by foreign invasions, sectarian wars and poor governance. From the 1980s the Taliban, which began as a resistance group fighting against the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, has played a key role in the affairs of Afghanistan.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Afghanistan State Building specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Following the US led invasion of Afghanistan, the Taliban lost the almost absolute control it held in the country.  This led to Afghanistan being classified as a failing state by the international community. After the US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, there was need for state-building; a term which is defined as constructing a functional state. The US has therefore been at the forefront of rebuilding Afghanistan with a huge military presence being established in the region.  Even so, inci dents of insecurity continue to be high in Afghanistan. This paper shall argue that Afghanistans security is best served by the withdrawal of Americas troops on Afghan soils. A Case for Continued US Presence Failing and failed states provide safe havens for terrorist organizations some of which operate internationally. Pauly (2010) specifically cautions that nations on the brink of failure are ideal bases for terrorist groups. Afghanistan served as the safe haven for Al-Qaida it was only after the invasion of the country by US led troops and the establishment of a functional government that the country stopped serving as a hub for terrorists. Paris and Sisk (2009) assert that international efforts were essential for the state-building efforts in post-Taliban Afghanistan. The Afghan government was installed through efforts of the US and currently, the military security and national budget of Afghanistan depends heavily on foreign funding. For a nation to function favorably, it has to have a functional justice system. This is because a nation’s justice system has a direct bearing on the perceived legitimacy of a government by its people. Hains (2008) states that the reason for this is that the nations citizens are more likely to cooperate with the security apparatus if they perceive that the justice system is effective and fair. Afghanistan’s justice system is primarily aided by the US. Should the US move out of Afghanistan, it can be assumed that the justice system would collapse therefore throwing Afghanistan into further turmoil.Advertising Looking for essay on government? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Failure of US Efforts While US led efforts to stability Afghanistan and bring about peace have been massive, they have not worked. This has mostly been because of the huge foreign military presence in Afghanistan. The presence of US military installations in Afghanistan has resul ted in the radicalization of sections of the population. The Taliban have in particular used the presence of foreign troops as recruitment tools with great success (Paris and Sisk, 2010). As a result of the increased US presence in Afghanistan, the Afghan government has been forced to demonstrate its accountability to the US instead of its citizens. This visible political intrusion has been as a result of the huge financial aid that the US gives to Afghanistan. By being accountable to its donors rather than its own people, the Afghan government has lost legitimacy in the eyes of Afghans which has resulted in increased attacks on government installations. While the 2001 Afghanistan invasion by the US let military force may have been largely welcomed by the general Afghan public, the ensuing breakdown of security and reemergence of sectarian war largely undermined the efforts of the new government and its international backers (Ayub, Kouvo Wareham, 2009). A decade after the dramatic fall of the Taliban, the country is full of violence, drug-related crimes and other abusive behavior that have cast a dark cloud over Afghanistan. Conclusion This paper has argued that the presence of the US in Afghanistan is detrimental to the security of the region. It has been shown that some of the violence that is currently perpetrated in the region is in retaliation to US presence. This paper has demonstrated that US forces help strengthen Taliban and increase sectarian wars. It can therefore be proposed that Afghanistans security is better served by American withdrawal from the region. Reference Ayub, F., Kouvo, S. Wareham, R. (2009). â€Å"Security Sector Reform in Afghanistan.† International Center for Transitional Justice. Web. Hains, C. M. et al. (2008). Breaking the Failed-State Cycle. RAND Corporation. Paris, R. Sisk, T.D. (2009). The Dilemmas of State Building: Confronting the Contradictions of Postwar Peace Operations. Taylor Francis.Advertising We w ill write a custom essay sample on Afghanistan State Building specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Pauly, J. R. (2010). The Ashgate Research Companion to US Foreign Policy. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.

Finding Your Flow Structuring Writing Time to Maximize Productivity

Finding Your Flow Structuring Writing Time to Maximize Productivity Finding Your Flow: Structuring Writing Time to Maximize Productivity Writers from all over the globe will likely agree that writing time is precious. The big question, of course, is how to use that time wisely? How to make sure that you’re as efficient and creative as possible during your allotted hours? Every writing project has its own particular needs, but structuring writing time to maximize productivity saves you time while helping with finding your â€Å"flow.† Start with the big picture, then work your way down to the details; this is a great way to stay on point and make the most of those precious minutes. Follow this step-by-step system to get the most out of your writing process. Step One: Clarifying Your Topic It may seem obvious, but knowing what you’re writing about is essential for a productive process. Is your subject clear? Do you require a thesis off the top? Do you need to refine or adjust your first idea to provide a more active, engaging launching pad for the piece? Being sure your topic is sharp and compelling will save you time later. Building an outline for your piece can be useful even at this early stage. It helps bring your main idea into focus while identifying any weaknesses or gaps in your thinking. This step will also determine whether your current topic is strong enough to carry you through to a conclusion. Step Two: Collecting Your Ideas. Whether the project you are working on requires extensive research, or you’re just jotting down your thoughts, gather as many of these building blocks as you can before you start to write. This will help shape and focus your thinking, and it will increase your efficiency. Online resources are plentiful and easily accessed, but consider researching your facts the old-fashioned way, too: at a library. Where web searches can be cluttered, requiring painstaking sifting to find what you need, libraries are more organized. A library helps you get precisely what you need, with real live experts working to help you. They’re also terrific places to do your actual writing! Don’t be afraid to gather more research material than you think you need. Once you put pen to paper, having a deep pool of resources gives you room to grow your piece in surprising ways – it will also help you drop any ideas that aren’t panning out the way you’d hoped. Fill your arsenal with as many relevant concepts, facts, and arguments as you can before moving on to the next step. Step Three: Organizing Your Thoughts. If you haven’t already created your outline, now is the time. With your topic, theme or thesis as your starting place, take yourself step-by-step to your conclusion. If it’s a narrative, what’s the structure? How does the story unfold? If it’s a research paper, how could you best cover your topic? What are the salient pieces of information, and what’s the most unambiguous order in which to present them? If it’s an argument, how does it need to develop? Decide how you plan to argue your thesis, and how you’ll respond to potential counterarguments. Lay out the specific markers that will guide the direction of your piece, determining where the information you’ve collected fits in. Expand your outline by connecting your ideas and research to the appropriate points, and then assess their strengths. Is there any critical research you haven’t made room for in your outline? Do you require ideas or facts that you haven’t yet gathered? Make you have a robust and detailed outline before proceeding with your work. Step Four: Writing! This is the moment you’ve been waiting for. This is where all the groundwork you’ve laid will pay off at this point. You have a clear map to follow, with solid research to back up your ideas. The focused thinking you’ve done earlier equips you with the mental clarity you’ll need to find all the right words. At this point, set up your writing environment in whichever way works best for you. Do you prefer to work in quiet, or with background music? Are you more focused at home or the library? Will you need coffee or water? Consider whether you’ll require access to the internet for research or reference purposes. For some, a co-working environment provides inspiration and energy. Create an individualized work environment that is comfortable and conducive to focus. Have all of your preparatory work handy, so that you can access it and cross-reference if you need to. Make sure you have pens and paper available if you like to make notes and edits the old-fashioned way. Then, get to it! Don’t be discouraged if you struggle through those first few pages; developing your ideas and arguments in a clear, compelling way isn’t easy. However, the work done during the first three steps means that your energy will now be used in the best way possible – writing the piece that you want to write. You’ve reduced the likelihood of false starts, missing parts, and wasted drafts by preparing well. You have fertile ground in which to grow your best writing. Stick to your outline as best you can, but don’t be afraid to adjust as you go. In doing the actual writing, you’ll no doubt make discoveries that you couldn’t have predicted. However, even here, your thorough preparation will make it possible for you to add to, subtract from and modify your piece without becoming lost. Trust your homework and keep your guiding topic in mind. Once you’ve completed a draft, you’re ready for step five. Step Five: Editing and Proofing. There are online tools that can help immensely at this point. Hopefully, spelling and grammar features have been alerting you to errors as you write. Some people find this helpful; others find it distracting, as it can interrupt their flow. Remember that you can turn off these features if you prefer to wait until you’ve finished a draft before checking its technical accuracy. Regardless, proofing spelling and grammar is only a small part of the editing process. Before you buff that piece to a high shine, you need to be sure that it’s solidly built. Try to read your draft as though seeing it for the first time. Is it clear? Does it say what you intended it to? Do the arguments and images connect comprehensively? Is it convincing? Consider whether any points or ideas are underdeveloped. Look out for overly long sections that can unbalance the flow of the overall piece. Evaluate whether your writing takes the reader where you want to go. Once you’re happy with the structure and flow of your work, then use those technical tools to be sure you deliver the most polished and powerful piece possible. As you spend more time writing, you’ll undoubtedly discover what works best for you. In the meantime, use this basic structure to help maximize your time, and begin the of finding your flow! For any questions about your next writing project, call 1 (800) 573-0840 to speak to an expert at . Servicing a range of academic needs throughout Canada, we’re ready to help you put your best foot forward at school, or in the competitive international job market.