In an interview with www.bamdad.af, Dr. Zakir Hussein Ershad, a university professor and author of the book “U.S. Post-Taliban Strategy in Afghanistan” asserts that a tendency towards conservatism presents serious challenges to institutionalizing democratic values in Afghanistan.

Ershad argues that many traditional beliefs are in fact misperceptions that are holding the country back and lead to socio-political deadlocks.  Better education for the younger generation, he says, is key to building a more democratic society.

One of the goals of the international community is to promote democracy in post-Taliban Afghanistan. To what extent has this goal been achieved over the past ten years in Afghanistan?

It is a time-consuming activity to promote and institutionalize democracy in Afghanistan. It is impossible to bring all changes in a country’s political culture all at once and promote new democratic values in such a short time.

A failure of the democratic system in Afghanistan is not simply the failure of a system; it is the failure of the "history of the country".

Formation of a political culture is an ongoing activity and can only be institutionalized through major social changes.

Unluckily, we did not have any institutionalized democratic culture in Afghanistan in the past. Though various groups have often talked about democratic values and democratic systems during Afghanistan’s contemporary history, practically, and given the social realities, democratic values never existed in Afghanistan. 

For instance, equality among human beings and acquiring opportunities based on merit are democratic principles. People receive opportunities and gain advantages through their capability, talent and skills in a democratic society. But, all social and political opportunities in Afghanistan’s political systems were based on appointment. People have obtained social and political opportunities based on their tribe, ethnicity or other relations.

Unluckily, we did not have any institutionalized democratic culture in Afghanistan in the past. Formation of a political culture is an ongoing activity and can only be institutionalized through major social changes.

Undoubtedly, in a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural country, where all social and political opportunities are appointment based, we face social and political stalemates. I can point to the Islamic Movement of the Taliban as a prominent example of social and political deadlock in Afghanistan.

It was not only destructive at the international level, but also a sign of [impending] political deadlock towards state building in Afghanistan. These kinds of regimes are bankrupt and unable to manage and address social problems. Such a situation was very clearly seen during the Taliban regime.

Following the collapse of the Taliban, Afghan representatives and the international community gathered in Bonn, Germany to establish an alternative system for post-Taliban Afghanistan. At the Bonn I Conference, they decided to establish a democratic government for Afghanistan to be able to solve the country’s social and political crises. I think, we can reduce the country’s current social and political stalemate as long as we move towards promoting a democratic culture and provide a social and cultural basis for institutionalizing democracy.

Do the challenges to this democratic transition have internal or external roots?

They have both internal and external roots. Our neighboring countries do not want to see a democratic Afghanistan. As democratic values are being institutionalized in Afghanistan, they see them as a threat to themselves.

I think, we can reduce the country’s current social and political stalemate as long as we move towards promoting a democratic culture and provide a social and cultural basis for institutionalizing democracy.

Also, internal factors are most important. Unfortunately, democracy seems like “an imposed western gift to Afghan society.” Afghan people’s understanding about themselves is based on traditional and social misperceptions.

Afghanistan will face deadlock until people’s understanding changes. I think the Afghan people’s insistence to maintain archaic thoughts and the reproduction of historical conservatism are the main barriers to promoting democratic values and institutionalizing democracy in Afghanistan.

It is said that secularism is one solution to transition from traditional to modern society. Is it possible to establish secularism in a traditional society like Afghanistan?

A negative understanding of secularism is a major problem in Afghanistan. People think secularism is ‘impiety’. In our society, a person who does not believe in religion and Islamic values is called secular. But, indeed, secularism is an idea for reforming and correcting religious beliefs. Much of what is understood as Islamic values in Afghan society refers to outdated beliefs which have no basis in Islam or Islamic history.

Our neighboring countries do not want to see a democratic Afghanistan. As democratic values are being institutionalized in Afghanistan, they see them as a threat to themselves.

As long as Afghan society is surrounded by traditional and outdated beliefs, then certainly its perception of modern values will be negative. It will count modern values not as values, but as anti-values.

In your opinion, what should be done to achieve a democratic society?

Given the facts and current situation in Afghan society, I think one solution to move away from traditional [misperceptions] and move towards democratic culture is for the young generation to receive higher education at universities.

Obtaining higher education is the best approach that enables us to replace the traditional culture with a democratic one. When educated, the Afghan middle class will be more familiar with human values; they will definitely defend democracy and democratic values.

How prominent has been the media’s role in this regard over last decade?

Although media outlets have some deficiencies and some of them are reporting only particular individuals’ stances and interests, I am upbeat about their role. I think no one can ignore the positive achievements made by the media over the past decade.

Because of the presence of media in Afghanistan, some remarkable achievements have led us towards democratization and have prevented many individuals from corruption. Media outlets have limited corrupt individuals in Afghanistan.

What have political parties and other political groups done to promote democracy?

Political parties may have good achievements in this regard, but in my opinion, they need a social base and more support.

Because of the presence of media in Afghanistan, some remarkable achievements have led us towards democratization and have prevented many individuals from corruption. Media outlets have limited corrupt individuals in Afghanistan.

Political parties are like political cartoons in Afghanistan and they are parties only in name. Political parties in Afghanistan are just fronts for their leaders to cover all their political activities.

What has the Afghan government, particularly the executive, done to promote democratic culture?

We cannot judge the Afghan government’s performance over the past ten years from a single side; it has experienced both positives and negatives. Positives include a revolution in the country’s educational system and development of public and private universities. Education for all men and women and the fact that education is no longer viewed as against Islamic values are great achievements. Also, Afghan politicians are being criticized for their policies. 

In my opinion, the most dangerous policies have reproduced conservative elements in our society. When our politicians should have helped to institutionalize democratic values, instead we have witnessed the reproduction of ethnic, regional, tribal and language tensions.

They should know that a failure of the democratic system in Afghanistan is not simply the failure of a system; it is the failure of the “history of the country”.