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The Fatal Conceit of Foreign Intervention: Evidence from the Afghanistan Papers

Author

Listed:
  • Lambert Karras J.
  • Coyne Christopher J.
  • Goodman Nathan P.

    (Department of Economics, George Mason University, MSN 3G4, Fairfax, VA, 22030, USA)

Abstract

The fatal conceit of foreign intervention refers to the limitations faced by governments using discretionary power to address perceived problems in foreign societies. Drawing on evidence from the “Afghanistan Papers”—a collection of internal government documents compiled by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) and released in December 2019—we demonstrate how the failure of the U.S.-led intervention in Afghanistan to meet the stated objectives illustrates the fatal conceit of foreign intervention. We explore the limitations faced by foreign government interveners in three stages, reflecting distinct decision nodes within a means-ends framework in which the policies relating to foreign intervention are formulated and implemented.

Suggested Citation

  • Lambert Karras J. & Coyne Christopher J. & Goodman Nathan P., 2021. "The Fatal Conceit of Foreign Intervention: Evidence from the Afghanistan Papers," Peace Economics, Peace Science, and Public Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 27(3), pages 285-310, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:pepspp:v:27:y:2021:i:3:p:285-310:n:1
    DOI: 10.1515/peps-2021-0001
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Afghanistan; Afghanistan Papers; fatal conceit; foreign intervention; nation building;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D73 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Bureaucracy; Administrative Processes in Public Organizations; Corruption
    • F50 - International Economics - - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy - - - General
    • H56 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - National Security and War

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