The political developments in Afghanistan from independence to present (1919-2020) (Problems and solutions)

The idea of political development involves enhancing the operational capability of political systems to address conflicts related to collective and individual interests, along with fostering the democratization and institutionalization of political systems and promoting increased freedom within a society. Historical and political research has revealed that the political development process in third-world and developing nations has frequently faced challenges and failed to achieve success. In simpler terms, these countries have encountered issues related to political, social, and cultural divisions during their political development. Due to its strategic and geopolitical location, Afghanistan holds significant global importance. The initial significant strides in the country's political development occurred in 1919 under the rule of Emanullah Khan. The subsequent step occurred in the final decade of Zahir Shah's reign, and the third phase unfolded after 2001 during the initial terms of Hamid Karzai and Ashraf Ghani. Nevertheless, the efforts made for political development during these periods were short-lived, leading to the emergence of authoritarianism, injustice, and oppression in the country, accompanied by attempts to curtail civil liberties. Consequently, this study delves into the obstacles hindering Afghanistan's political development from 1919 to 2020 and endeavours to propose solutions, including balanced development and cultural integration. In the case of Afghanistan, a country that has struggled to achieve success in the endeavours toward modernization and political development spanning almost a century (1919-2020), there has been limited academic research on this matter. Consequently, it is crucial to conduct an in-depth investigation into this issue. This study employed the descriptive research method, seeking to meticulously define and elucidate the subject under examination. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in the libraries of Afghanistan, Iran, and Turkey. The findings indicate that Afghanistan's lack of development is attributed to its traditional political culture, diverse social mosaic, and varied sectarian structure. Keywords: Afghanistan, Political Development, Modernisation, Balanced Development, Cultural Integration, Traditional Political Culture