Afghan Institute for Strategic Studies (AISS) Herat Security Dialogue-VI «The Future of Nation-States» 13-14 October 2017 - Herat Conference Report www.aiss.af AISS-HSD-06-2017 Table of Contents About AISS ................................................................................................................................................ 3 A Short Introduction to the Herat Security Dialogue Series .................................................. 5 Conceptual Note on the Conference ................................................................................................ 5 Objective of the Conference ............................................................................................................... 6 Inaugural Session .................................................................................................................................. 8 Panel 1: Nation-States: Blessing or Curse? ................................................................................. 12 Discussion Session ........................................................................................................................................ 16 Panel 2: Can Nation-States Survive the 21st Century? ............................................................ 18 Discussion Session ........................................................................................................................................ 22 Panel 3: The State in Islamic Thought & Practices: Idealism; Realism; Disappointment ................................................................................................................................... 24 Discussion Session ........................................................................................................................................ 28 Panel 4: The Arduous Road of State-Building in Afghanistan: Legitimacy; Capacity; Hegemony .............................................................................................................................................. 31 Discussion Session ........................................................................................................................................ 36 Panel 5: Democratic State; Democratic Society; Future of Democracy ............................ 39 Discussion Session ........................................................................................................................................ 44 Panel 6: Special Session on US’ New Strategy for Afghanistan/Region ............................ 47 Discussion Session ........................................................................................................................................ 53 Note of Thanks: Director of AISS .................................................................................................... 57 Annexes .................................................................................................................................................. 58 Annex 1: Agenda ............................................................................................................................................ 58 Annex 2: List of Participants ..................................................................................................................... 60 Annex 3: Links of the National and International Media covered the conference ............... 64 Annex 4: HSD-Vi logo and photos ........................................................................................................... 65 2 About AISS Mission: The Afghan Institute for Strategic Studies (AISS) was established in October 2012 and has since become a premier research institution in Afghanistan. It aims to create an intellectual space for addressing strategic issues pertaining to Afghanistan in the wider regional and international contexts. AISS seeks to foster timely discussions on Afghanistan by publishing high-quality research reports and promoting dialogue amongst a wide spectrum of stakeholders. All our activities and programs are based on the principles of Professionalism, Independence, Internationalism and Progressive Values. Objective and Goals: The AISS is an independent, not-for-profit research institute dedicated to providing qualitative, non-partisan and policy-oriented research, publication, translation of books/reports, professional training and policy advocacy with distinct focus on Afghanistan. A cross-cutting priority of AISS is to empower the youth through specific programmatic initiatives, as the youth represent the future of the country. Means and Activities: In order to contribute to ongoing efforts in consolidating Afghanistan’s fragile achievements and realize the nation’s immense human and natural resources, the AISS uses a series of instruments, including: Conducting independent researches Entering partnership agreement with respected and like-minded research institutes Publication (books and journals) Translation of important books/articles from English into Farsi/Pashto and vice versa Organizing seminars, conferences, workshops (provincial , national, international) and briefings Offering executive type leadership training programs Initiating and sponsoring annual public awards for recognizing outstanding Afghan youth and international personality 3 Integrating conventional and modern social media tools/networks in all its activities. Research Focus Areas: The AISS conducts timely research in a broad range of political, economics and societal issues. Our current research areas include: Democratic-state building process; National Security; Sustainable Economic Development; Regional Cooperation/integration; US/West- Afghanistan Strategic partnerships; Islamic Renaissance; and Khorassan of ideas (national/regional cultural integration/renewal). Board of Advisors: Dr. Rangin Dadfar Spanta, Chairman of the Board (Afghanistan) Dr. Barnett R. Rubin (USA) Dr. David Samuel Sedney (USA) Dr. Sima Samar (Afghanistan) Professor Shahrbanou Tadjbakhsh (France) Dr. Radha Kumar (India) Ambassador Kai Eide (Norway) Professor Wang Jisi (China) Ahmad Nader Nadery (Afghanistan) Office Address Afghan Institute for Strategic Studies, Qala Noh Borja, Kart-e-Parwan, Kabul, Afghanistan Phone: 0093 795 37 43 42 Web site: www.aiss.af 4 A Short Introduction to the Herat Security Dialogue Series Afghan Institute for Strategic Studies (AISS) organized the sixth round of “Herat Security Dialogue” in Herat, Afghanistan. The two-day conference, held on October 13-14, 2017, was attended by high-ranking government officials, legislators, academicians, representatives of international organizations, media outlets and civil society The sixth round of Herat Security Dialogue was held under the umbrella theme of “Future of Nation-States.” The Herat security Dialogue (HSD) is an annual international conference held by the Afghan Institute for Strategic Studies in the historical city of Herat. The essential aim of this conference is to provide an opportunity for representatives of the countries to discuss on issues concerning cooperation and collaboration on areas of security, politics, culture and development, both domestically and internationally. Conceptual Note on the Conference The institution of the “nation-state” has been the leading model of political organization since 18th century. While primarily a European invention, it has become a universal model, though often reluctantly and externally-imposed in the case of non- European/Western communities. However, the massive socio-economic, political, and technological changes in today’s world pose new challenges to the viability and the structure of the nation-states, both from within and externally. These challenges and questions are multi-dimensional and often contradictory. On one hand, the advancement of globalization trends in politics, economy, technology and society have created supra national-states entities, actors and concepts such as Multinational Corporations, the Internet, Global Governance, Transnationalism, Hegemonic powers (global/regional) and Islamists’ notion of the Caliphate. On the other hand, anti-Globalization trends aim to shrink the space and the role of nation-states. Trends such as Devolution, Identity politics, Isolationist politics and Sub-nationalism challenge the primacy of nation-states from within. 5 The Sixth Herat Security Dialogue (HSD-VI) welcomed individuals from across Afghanistan and around the world to discuss these and related issues to acquire better understanding about the future of nation-states, particularly in the case of conflict-ridden nation-states such as Afghanistan. Participants of the conference attempted to discuss the topic by bringing together diverse perspectives from Afghanistan, the region and the wider world. The conference, in addition to the opening and concluding sessions, divided into six working panels. Objective of the Conference Herat Security Dialogue serves as a forum between scholars, politicians, experts, analysts, and statesmen to engage in a dialogue aimed at developing practical and broad cooperation and collaboration. Herat Security Dialogue as an international forum aims to promote mutual understanding and find common grounds in the areas of political dialogue, security coordination, and confronting religious extremism in the region. One of the significant objectives of this conference is connecting and bridging between countries. The conference aims at strengthening dialogue between countries and