Reconstruction: the bringing of peace and plenty or occult imperialism?

Reconstruction and imperialism are often portrayed either as opposites or necessary collaborators in status quo states’ repression of the lesser mortals of our international system. This article examines these debates in the light of what is happening in Iraq and Afghanistan and argues that the two concepts should rather be seen as inevitable if uneasy bedfellows in a world where simple denunciations or weary acceptations of “reality” are simply not good enough. It looks at some recent writing on reconstruction, from critical and not so critical perspectives as well as examining how the recent concept of reconstruction has a clear historical genealogy which does much to explain both its positive and negative aspects. Its further suggests that we need to develop better policy and theoretical thinking to encompass the new needs of our reconstruction epoch.