Construction Conditions and Practices during War in Afghanistan
Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 149, Issue 5
Abstract
Reconstruction during the recent conflict in Afghanistan involved extensive construction of public infrastructure alongside an ongoing civil war. This article sheds light on some practical effects on construction projects of political instability, violence, and associated economic and governance conditions in conflict-affected settings in general. It contributes to knowledge on construction in conflict settings by identifying generic relationships that connect prevailing conflict-affected conditions with responding dysfunctional construction project practices. Through interviews with 32 practitioners engaged in construction projects during the recent war in Afghanistan, nine widespread dysfunctional practices were identified: fraudulent testing of materials, corrupt certification, excessive underpricing, fraudulent bidding, partial and complete tender subversion, contract reassignment, inadequate superintendence, and intimidation of superintendents. While these practices that were common in Afghanistan are not exclusive to conflict scenarios, they appear to increase in prevalence amid weakened regulatory systems that characterize conflict-affected situations in general. The expanded prevalence of these practices amidst conflict can crowd-out diligent contracting practices from construction markets. In addition to undermining project outcomes and associated political objectives in the short- and medium-term, potential persistence of such dysfunctional practices has long-term implications for construction industry development and infrastructure investment in places emerging from conflict.
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Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code generated or used during the study are proprietary or confidential in nature and may only be provided with restrictions. Interview transcripts are available in an anonymized form for valid academic research purposes.
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Published In
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 149 • Issue 5 • May 2023
Copyright
© 2023 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jun 17, 2022
Accepted: Dec 1, 2022
Published online: Mar 7, 2023
Published in print: May 1, 2023
Discussion open until: Aug 7, 2023
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Business management
- Construction engineering
- Construction industry
- Construction management
- Construction materials
- Contracts and subcontracts
- Developing countries
- Dispute resolution
- Engineering materials (by type)
- Infrastructure construction
- Legal affairs
- Materials engineering
- Political factors
- Practice and Profession
- Project management
- Public administration
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