ABSTRACT

Set in an outlaying district of Kabul province, called Qarabagh, this chapter examines everyday realities of the intervention through the narratives of district residents, local government officials, community leaders, and external actors that lived and worked in Qarabagh district. For the most part, however, this chapter zooms in on the perspectives of the district residents and highlights the complex dynamics that exist not only between residents and international aid workers, but also among the district inhabitants themselves. The story of Qarabagh as it unfolds here provides insight into the complexity relationship between security, and the everyday violence of intervention and the benefits and dilemmas that emerge as a consequence of attempts to democratise local governance systems. Throughout this chapter actors utilise a variety of tactics to navigate the dynamics and challenges of the district.