The Foreign Service Journal, December 2004

nic conflict slowed plans for nation- building and undermined the legiti- macy of the interim occupation orga- nizations and of the fledgling transi- tion authorities. The difficulties of establishing security were not unique to those countries or to the Bush administra- tion, of course. The issues were just as complex in the Balkans and East Timor during the previous adminis- tration. The United Nations mission in Kosovo had continuing struggles in establishing public order, rebuilding the judicial system, and demilitarizing competing political and ethnic groups. How can a new reconstruction and stabilization coordinating office in the State Department and an interagency coordinating committee help make U.S. policy on nation-building more transparent? Experience suggests that nation-builders are more likely to achieve desired social and political purposes if their long-term goals are acknowledged openly and officially rather than carried out in secrecy. While it is true that donors risk giving offense by appearing to interfere with basic decisions in independent, sover- eign nations, the accusation that they are doing so secretly will be even more damaging — and without achieving the desired ends. At the same time, as experience in Iraq, Afghanistan, Cambodia and Bosnia shows, transparent objectives are not enough without strong coordinating mechanisms to carry them out. Nation-building depends on recre- ating a strong state quickly. Postwar interventions in the former Yugoslavia, Central America and Afghanistan all testify to the need for a coordinated program to help a new governing authority find ways of rec- onciling ethnic or religious conflicts, protecting human rights, generating economic opportunities, extending basic services, controlling corruption, responding effectively to emergen- cies, and combating poverty and inequality — all at the same time. A coordinated U.S. program could better establish the conditions for turning power over to the people of the countries undergoing reconstruc- tion. Experience in Afghanistan underlines the importance of sharing major decisions regarding future development with a local governing authority and the people. Where eth- nic, religious or other conflicts result- ed in regime change, deliberately or inadvertently ignoring any important segment of society undermines nation-building. Although there may be no stan- dard sequence of development among the various elements in the nation-builder’s model, comparative studies of newly-developed countries reaffirms two preconditions to a viable state: a competitive economy 58 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / D E C E M B E R 2 0 0 4 You know that intimate, boutique all-suite hotel that everyone wants to find? The one that has cutting-edge style and service, but is still reasonably priced? You just found it! • Located minutes from State Department Headquarters • Government per diem accepted all year • Newly Renovated suites with full kitchens • Visit our new restaurant “Dish” For more information please visit www.theriverinn.com or call (202) 337-7600. L OTS OF S TYLE , N OT A LOT OF P R I CE 9 2 4 2 5 T H S T R E E T , NW W A S H I N G T O N , DC 2 0 0 3 7