Afghanistan: Ethnic structure and politics

This study, covering the last three centuries of Afghanistan, examines the country's sociological and political structures. The focus of the research is the impact of tribal thought and cultural systems in Afghanistan. Since the era of Ahmed Shah Abdali, political power relations have been shaped by tribal values, which has been the main reason for the persistent crises in modern Afghanistan. Despite being composed of many ethnic groups, Afghanistan has continuously faced challenges in achieving national unity. The determining role of tribal structures in power relations has made the country susceptible to internal and external conflicts. Throughout history, tribal conflicts have led to the transfer of power among certain groups, hindering the country's economic and social development. The reinforcement of tribal structures through religious and ideological tools has deepened conflicts and legitimacy crises in Afghanistan. Ethnic and sectarian identity conflicts have obstructed the development of a national identity sense and distanced Afghanistan from the modern state concept. Existing structures fail to demonstrate effectiveness in the political and social realms, causing divisions among the people. Consequently, it has been noted that tribal and ethnic structures in Afghanistan are the main source of the country's political and social crises. The study emphasizes that Afghanistan must break free from the influence of tribal structures and requires profound changes for the modernization of its societal and political structures.