In June of 1947, in the wake of the widespread destruction that World War 2 inflicted upon Europe, Secretary of State George Marshall delivered a famous speech at Harvard University. In it, he said, “It is logical that the United States should do whatever it is able to do to assist in the return of normal economic health in the world, without which there can be no political stability and no assured peace…[our] purpose should be the revival of a working economy in the world so as to permit the emergence of political and social conditions in which free institutions can exist.” The United States has pledged support to Afghanistan as it struggles to rebuild after their most recent war. But is a Marshall-type plan the answer? How can the U.S. ensure that conditions in Afghanistan remain stable enough to prevent it from becoming a haven for terrorists once again?

Guests:

Eileen Babbit, professor of international politics and co-director of the Center for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution at the Fletcher School at Tufts University;
William Beeman, anthropology professor at Brown University