How federalism is interpreted in Afghanistan?

Federalism is an academic concept, and I am fascinated by its ability in decentralizing and engaging the people more in democracy. In the context of Afghanistan, there would not be a clear-cut presumption that it works as it did in the rest of the world. However, it is still a means to bring about justice, ethnicity balance in the respective regions and terminate the monopoly of single-ethnic rule. As far as the success or failure of federalism in Afghanistan is concerned, there are two different sets of ideas, in the one hand the pros of federalism think that in the given diversity and political context of Afghanistan, it will successfully operate, in the other hand the cons of federalism believe that it will not be a good response to the current political crisis. This paper would academically examine these hopes and concerns with no favor in term of its applicability or non-applicability. [1] In the other word, this also would pursue the possibilities and challenges of its applicability within the confines of realities not based on waves favoring this system without profound judgments.

As Afghanistan does not have a clear census of its population for some given reasons, so it lacks data in many other spheres such as demographic realities, ethnic composition, majority, minority, distribution of its population and so on. This paper, as long as internet search reveals, would be the inception of an attempt to discuss a scientific concept which has been gloomed by the ethnic totalitarians, however, it would not be able to cope the issue in the manner it should be; due to the limitation of time, references, scope of the paper as an M.A dissertation and may be the incapability of the writer as the beginner in the realm of writing.

Afghanistan has faced a very unfortunate confrontation with the conceptual paradigms in its contemporary history. Communism came into Afghanistan with the slogan of social justice, classless society and equality, but it flowed down the streams of blood and perished many innocent lives. Thereafter, Mujahiddin came into power with the motto of Islam and devastated the homes of many people and added fuel to ethnic conflicts. Taliban also came with the name of Islam and bringing overall peace and divine rules in the earth. They uprooted the gardens, burnt the plantations and homes of the same believers and committed many massacres, tortures and crimes. Now democracy is on pose! It is likely to experience the same fate as the aforesaid paradigms. However, still it can be steered on proper direction if international community feels committed to their mission in Afghanistan. There is an urgent need of international attention and vigilance to Afghanistan political and administrative chaos. There is a dire need of rethinking, re-looking and revising of political and administrative practices going on in this country. Of course, there is no fault of communism, Islam and democracy, it is the fault of the awkward, greedy and fascist leaders who play the evil role and defame the systems.

Federalism, as a pattern of democratic practice, is very capable to revise different levels of a political and administrative structure. It shows its dynamism and practicality. Can it end the single-ethnic rule in Afghanistan? Can it lead to social justice and distribution of the resources justly to every nook and corner of this country? Can it help to pluralize a single-voice society into multi-voices? Can it help to bring changes in delivering new leaders to Afghanistan and rotating the power to many players emerging in the new arena?

Anyhow, federalism can manifest no miracle; it is the Afghans themselves who can bring about miracles with accepting each other on the basis of no superiority and inferiority, no absolute rightfulness and no absolute deprivation, no ethnic order but excellence in virtues of knowledge and wisdom. If the people of a country fear from each other, no remedy can be found; except removing the fear. The reality of recent years shows that some ethnicities are afraid of other ethnicity/ethnicities in advancement in education, sport, trade, economy, and international recognition. Where does this fear come from? It comes from losing the monopoly of representing this country with single-ethnic identity. The fear comes from observing the others sitting with them on the same table of decision-making. The fear comes from channeling the equal distribution of national wealth, authority and honor. Federalism, due to providing much autonomy to states/provinces can decentralize and share the power into more levels. It can engage all the states/provinces to take decisions, to make laws of their relevant regions, approve policies and development plans for advancement of their concerned jurisdiction and to consult with the central government.

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[1] This is mentioned because certain people think in Afghanistan that raising such types of issues harms national integration and those who cite them are the enemy of national unity and favor partition. Even studying and writing about these issues are forbidden implicitly. The purpose of this paper is, however, for the sake of academic pursuit and its feasibility in solving our lasting dilemma.