Hospitality codes and Social Exchange Theory: The Pashtunwali and tourism in Afghanistan

•Codes of hospitality in the Afghan tribal tradition of the Pashtunwali are explored.•We offer insight into unknown territory through empirical data from the armed forces.•A hybrid of Social Exchange Theory amalgamates reciprocal and negotiated exchange.•We note potential for post-conflict development by harnessing embedded social codes.

The Afghan people are shrouded in rumour, myth and superstition. Drawing upon insights from military personnel, intelligence operatives, journalists and others, this study uses Social Exchange Theory (SET) to frame our understanding of their underpinning cultural code, the Pashtunwali. The study contributes both theoretically and empirically: The nature of the Pashtunwali highlights that SET cannot adequately frame some cultural exchange practices and a hybrid framework for negotiated and reciprocal exchange is presented. Furthermore, contextually, this is the first study that explores a code of hospitality through a social exchange lens to explore potential tourism development. A framework exists upon which commercial activity can be built without altering beliefs, social dynamics or day to day pursuits. For commercial development to be successful, it must yield similar or greater levels of income to those that currently exist, more importantly, traditions of autonomy and self-dependence will affect employment and training within an emergent tourism industry.