War without Fighting?

The Reintegration of former Combatants in Afghanistan seen through the lens of strategic Thought

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Referencing DDR experiences from other countries and DDR programs in Afghanistan, this book examines the lessons learned that have been incorporated in the APRP. As in other coun-tries, Afghanistan will be facing the challenges of reintegration for many years to come. This requires not only the long-term financial commitment of the International Community (IC), but also the con-sistent political will of the Afghan government, the continuous im-provement of administrative capacities, constant support provided by the security institutions, and the enduring commitment of the people to live together with former adversaries.
This book continues with the examination of the strategic implications of reintegration in wartime. What intellectual concepts and tools do theories of war and strategy contain to better under-stand reintegration? The primacy of policies, war as a paradoxical trinity, peace as the ultimate objective of war, the impact of culture on strategies, and the concept of limited war are propositions of stra-tegic thought that critically enlighten the phenomenon of reintegra-tion in times of war. It becomes evident that reintegration should not be seen as the sole realm of counterinsurgency (COIN). By contrast, reintegration must be regarded as an essential, even supreme element in the development of strategies.
Reintegration may not be suitable for all future conflicts. Nevertheless, the assessment of the feasibility, acceptability, and suit-ability of reintegration should not start when a conflict fought with military means is close to termination but rather as soon as possible after the initial outbreak of hostilities. If reintegration is launched in the midst of a conflict, all strategic leaders must be aware that this will likely have a significant impact on their strategies. Ends, ways and means must be adjusted to better support the political purposes of reintegration programs. Reintegration must also be considered in the restructuring of headquarters and forces, and of the professional education system.