Why Good Governance Implementation in the Post-Taliban Administration in Afghanistan Failed?

Abstract

The article examines the obstacles and issues that led to good governance failure in Afghanistan in the past two decades. Afghanistan received considerable aid from the West in general and the USA in particular. Despite two decades of international community support, democracy and good governance were not institutionalised. Politics continues to be dominated by big money, goons and people with little background and training in informal politics. Power and authority were concentrated at the top echelons of government. Corruption has become so endemic that it has engulfed the entire society. President Karzai and President Ghani ethnicised the government and missed several opportunities to achieve democracy, good governance and economic growth in the past two decades. Lack of independence of the judiciary, accountability and transparency in the affairs of the State is a significant impediment to good governance implementation. The human rights situation remains unsatisfactory. One of the pressing problems of governance is the politicisation of the public bureaucracy, which adversely affects states performance. Notably, President Ghani failed to provide the country with a vision mission or to serve the nation with commitment and dedication. Bad leadership style led to the state collapse on 15 August 2021, as President Ghani fled the country and Taliban fighters captured the political power in Afghanistan.