The discussion of political Islam and democracy in Afghanistan within the context of post-WWII Era.

Afghanistan is located in the heart of Asia with over 99% of the population Muslims, most of whom are conservative and religious. Islam has an influence on politics in Afghanistan from the long past and religion is an integral part of politics. Democratic wave in Afghanistan has seen in the years of 1963-1973, but could not continue as a result of coups, interventions, and wars caused by Islamists and communists. Political Islam movements emerged in Egypt and India via the establishing social and political groups by some individuals as a reaction to the abolition of the caliphate, the new world order, and Muslim backwardness in various fields. Muslim Brotherhood of Egypt and Jamaat-e Islami of Mawdudi, who are known as predecessors of Islamist movements influenced politics in Afghanistan after the 1960s. Afghanistan is a country with a long history of instability, and political Islam is one of the major players in the situation. This study aims to fill the gap in the literature area about political Islam and democracy in Afghanistan and their relation and influence on each other within the context of post-WWII era. Democracy is defined and discussed widely in the first chapter. Political Islam and its characteristics are discussed with details in the second chapter and the aim is to find suitable answers about Islam and democracy and type of governance in Islam according to the ideas of different Muslim and non-Muslim movements and authors. The third and last chapter focuses on Afghanistan history before emerging of Islamist mevements, the formation of political Islamic movements in the 1960s, and the situation caused by these movements and others after the 1960s. Keywords: Islam, Political Islam, Democracy, Government, Politics, State, Afghanistan