Policing Afghanistan (Columbia/Hurst)

Adding rich facets to the technical focus of most policing literature, this volume illuminates the history, nature, and function of Western European and North American police organizations via a rare, in-depth case study of post-2001 Afghanistan. Following the evolution of Afghanistan's police forces over the past decade, while taking stock of the country's bitter internal conflicts, Antonio Giustozzi and Mohammed Isaqzadeh reveal the distinct politics of policing within this developing nation and the role of external actors in shaping its political economy. Giustozzi and Isaqzadeh engage with ongoing debates over the future of the Afghan police force and the strengths and weaknesses of existing social, political, and international factors. They have watched the Afghan police force develop from a rudimentary, militia-based operation into a more sophisticated, technically-adept network. Their observations therefore shed vital light on the strategies international forces should pursue in such a difficult environment to achieve institutional and organizational success.