DEMOCRATIZATION PROCESS IN AFGHANISTAN: CHALLENGES AND ACHIEVEMENTS (2001-2017)

Abstract

After the disintegration of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR) and end of Cold War era in 1991, many international organizations, contributor governments and development foundations have advocated and worked for democratizations as a way to accomplish improvements and peace in countries that experienced war and instability such as Afghanistan. Following the collapse of the Taliban regime, an absolutely new and unprecedented journey of democratization based on the Bon agreement was started in Afghanistan under the observation of United Nations. Despite of massive improvement in political, social and economic areas, the expectations have not been met. This study aims to thoroughly analyze the last 17 years democratization process in Afghanistan, particularly focusing on challenges and achievements. Qualitative research method is used in this research through the implementation of liberal democracy theory. The study revealed that insecurity, corruption, ethnic cleavage, vast production of opium and harmful neighbors are the main challenges for democratization. Meanwhile, this research also found that triumph of Medias and freedom of speech is one of the precious accomplishment of democratization process. Conduction of periodic elections were also considered to be a very important accomplishment although still has flaws and defects. Another accomplishment was found to be the establishment of new political parties, but most of them don not cross the ethnic and linguistic line. Finally, the presence of separate judicial system was also considered to be an achievement but this organ of government has been incredibly functioning weakly.