Afghanistan Analysts Network – English

Martine van Bijlert

How to Win an Afghan Election; Perceptions and Practices

Martine van Bijlert •

In its second report the Afghanistan Analysts Network (AAN) holds the magnifying glass to the Afghan elections, exploring the impact of high-level deals, local-level decision-making processes, and electoral manipulation. The author, Martine van Bijlert, used her extensive in-country experience, contacts and language skills to provide a detailed analysis of the deal-making and politicking that underlie […]

Special Reports Read more

AAN Election Blog No. 2: On the Campaign Trail

Martine van Bijlert •

A view of the Afghan elections through the eyes of the so-called ‘minor actors’, those without influence and money who try to navigate and position themselves and try to find their place in what is going on. The first campaigner to be introduced is – let’s call him Abdul Mohammad. The last few times I […]

Political Landscape Read more

Unruly Commanders and Violent Power Struggles: Taliban Networks in Uruzgan

Martine van Bijlert •

Martine van Bijlert. In: Antonio Giustozzi (ed.) Decoding the New Taliban. Insights from the Afghan Field. Colombia: Hurst, 2009 Full publication available below: Unruly Commanders and Violent Power Struggles: Taliban Networks in Uruzgan 

External publications Read more

Imaginary Institutions; State Building in Afghanistan

Martine van Bijlert •

Martine van Bijlert, In: Doing Good or Doing Better? Development Policies in a Globalising World. The Hague: WRR/Dutch Scientific Council for Government Policy. June 2009. The paper “Imaginary Institutions; State Building in Afghanistan” is available as chapter 7 here.

External publications Read more

Teeth, flowers and another tale of violence

Martine van Bijlert •

Every day in Afghanistan is full of stories. Most of them with a fair share of bad luck and wry humour and usually quite a bit of violence. This story is about – let’s call him Hamidullah. Hamidullah comes from a place not far from Kabul. It is commander country. In the past he fought under […]

Rights and Freedoms Read more

Modest beginnings

Martine van Bijlert •

April 2009. After having worked out of the EUSR office in Kabul for almost five years I am suddenly institutionally homeless. I borrow a spare office in an NGO compound, so that I can at least offer people a quiet place and a cup of tea. The walls are bare, the couch sags and the […]

Context and Culture Read more

Between Discipline and Discretion. Policies Surrounding Senior Subnational Appointments

Martine van Bijlert •

Martine van Bijlert, AREU Briefing Paper, May 2009. Kabul: Afghan Research and Evaluation Unit Full publication available below: Between Discipline and Discretion. Policies Surrounding Senior Subnational Appointments

External publications Read more

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