This semester the whole class will write a senior project. All students are free to choose any topic from English Social studies. I have always had an interest for security and development policy.
My topic is therefore as following:
Analyse one regional ore international conflict, where one ore more English speaking country are involved.
The conflict I have chosen to analyse is a both a regional and an international conflict. The conflict is located in Afghanistan, but over 40 different countries participate in a global initiative to create stability and security in the region. This is done through the International Security Force (ISAF). ISAF was created after a request from the Security Council. ISAF is now lead by NATO, but FN is still strongly involved in the region, to improve the conditions for the Afghanistan population and create development in the country.
Over the last years FN and ISAF have been strongly criticized for their work in Afghanistan. Here in Norway one of the governing parties, SV, even wants to withdraw the Norwegian troops from the region.
My allegation to my senior project is as following:
After FN and ISAF’s work in Afghanistan, the living conditions for the Afghan people are now worse.
I will probably make my allegation more specific during my work. A part of the task during the senior project is also to evaluate the working process. I will therefore create more post later on in the working process, so stay tuned!
It is an interesting project and I look forward to following the process. They interviewed people fro ISAF on the news the other day.
SvarSlettThis sounds like a good senior project. I am looking forward to learning about a conflict which so much defines the time that we live in :)
SvarSlettThanks. Unfortunately, my topic has become more relevant because of a recently dead of a young boy from Norway.
SvarSlettAs you might be aware, Afghanistan is one of my favourite topics. However, there are very many different approaches to this sort of project; you can focus on international politics, politics within the region, history, economy (the Taliban has to be funded by somebody), ethics, war tactics, the humanitarian efforts and so on. All these should apply to the criteria listed, just try to put some English speaking countries in there.
SvarSlettI would probably have focused on the historical background leading to the conflict, particularly looking into USA's funding of the Mujahedin, and the financial aspects. Afghanistan is the world's largest producer of opium, I believe, and a lot of this probably ends up in Europe. The Taliban is also funded by Saudi-Arabia (among others), with money made from exporting oil (to the US).
If you look into the living conditions, as you seemingly intend to, I would advise you to check what happened during and after the previous war (Soviet 1979-1989).
And go watch Charlie Wilson's War - it's a great film. Hell, you should see it in class. It also gives some clues on how the Congress and political system work.