The Puzzle of Democracy in Afghanistan
Subject Areas :Nozar Shafiee 1 , Aghdas Eqbal 2
1 - استادیار و عضو هیئت علمی دانشگاه اصفهان. Shafiee2@hotmail.co
2 - دانشجوی کارشناسی ارشد علوم سیاسی دانشگاه اصفهان. Aeghbal1986@yahoo.com
Keywords: Democracy, authoritarianism, complicated societies, parochialism, minimal democracy, liberal values,
Abstract :
In spite of the famous grounds of democracy called “the decade of democracy” and even passing of the constitution، the beginning of the decision to set up democracy in Afghanistan is timed with the military attack on Afghanistan and military defeat of the Taliban after September 11، 2001. Taking into consideration the international and regional importance and implications of Afghanistan problem for the neighbouring countries، the present research is examining the question of democracy or in other words better to say “puzzle of democracy” in Afghanistan. After reviewing the theories of democracy in complicated societies and the close connection between ethnicity and democracy in Afghanistan the article divides the view points on democracy in that country into two main groups and then analyzes these two groups view points. In other words since the beginning of the process of democratization there are two distinct thinking on democracy in Afghanistan. The opponents and the critics of establishing democracy in Afghanistan are of the view that the complexities and the obstacles on the way of democracy are due to special socio-economic conditions of this society (the level of literacy، education، health standards، development، etc). They are also of the view that the democratization process itself has created negative outcome for the country. On the other hand the supporters of democratization in Afghanistan by laying emphasis on minimal democracy and liberal values believe that democracy by decentralizing power and political development and resolving the political participation crisis can help reducing the conflicts in Afghanistan.
