Democracy in Afghanistan: Developments and Challenges

Abstract

This paper analyzes the prospects of democracy in Afghanistan in the light of challenges it is facing and the developments it is making. The paper develops a democratic model and applies that model to Afghanistan. Then parameters/precursors of democracy are discussed to measure the pace of democratic development. The US has been involved in the development and consolidation of democracy in Afghanistan since 2001. This paper highlights the developments that contradict the basic concept of democracy in Afghanistan. It has been argued that for political stability strengthening of state institution is a precursor in which nationalistic and objective leadership has to take the lead. In order to have democracy or people representative government, every ethnic group including Taliban should be given the due role and representation. This paper concludes that it is highly unlikely to develop western form of democracy in Afghanistan keeping in view its past and present, but if it continued working towards the development, then the time will come when it would be able to develop its own form of stable political system that would address its issues and demands in the light of Afghanistan's state and society's aspirations.