Overview

Through interviews with key policy practitioners on both sides of the Atlantic, this study reveals the complex picture of counter narcotics strategy in Afghanistan. It highlights the key points of cooperation and contention, and details the often contradictory and competitive objectives of the overall war effort in Afghanistan. Western counter-narcotics policies in Afghanistan failed dismally after opium poppy cultivation surged to unprecedented levels. The Anglo-American partnership at the centre of this battleground was divided by competing and opposing views of how to address the opium problem, which troubled the well-established Anglo-American relationship.

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9781474458474

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Reviews

"A very informative and insightful account of Anglo-American counter-narcotics policies in Afghanistan between 2001 and 2011 that explains how common goals were affected by close cooperation, intense competition, and strong disagreements when devising policies and actions. Berry skillfully demonstrates how flawed analyses and inadequate solutions failed to address opium production in Afghanistan.--Pierre-Arnaud Chouvy, UMR Prodig Anyone who believes that western democracies should expend treasure and blood to curtail the production of illicit drugs in hostile, distant lands must read Philip Berry's work. It illuminates the confusion of purpose, lack of resources and any semblance of clear leadership among the British and American agencies in Afghanistan who were tasked with reducing that benighted country's opium harvests and rampant corruption.--Kim Howells, Former Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office Philip Berry has provided a rare and invaluable insight into the policy making process of international drug control. Drawing on first hand interviews with many of the main protagonists and extensive documentation from both sides of the Atlantic he exposes the challenges government officials faced in the messy policy process of Afghan nation building and drug control. A must read for all interested in international relations, drugs policy and Afghanistan.--David Mansfield, London School of Economics Providing the definitive account of Anglo-American counter narcotic policies in Afghanistan between 2001 and 2011, this important work sheds new light on the oscillations, resilience and limitations of the special relationship within a fluid and complex policy environment. Informed by an impressive array of key informant interviews, Berry's work provides not only a fine-grained and nuanced account but also offers lessons learned for policy design in settings where multi-actor cooperation and competition is inherent.--David R. Bewley-Taylor, Swansea University A well written and engaging study of the intertwining of alliance politics and counter drug policy. Fractured political processes on both sides of the alliance dominated a process which repeatedly refused to recognize that US and British political demands for speedy results faced realistic limits on the ground. The War on Drugs is a useful study of how Great Britain manages a fluctuating influence on joint policies despite constrained resources and the overwhelming requirement of maintaining the special relationship.-- ""Ronald E. Neumann, Ambassador (ret.) - Former US ambassador to Afghanistan"""

Author Information

Philip A. Berry, Lecturer in War Studies, King's College London.

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