RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ISLAMIC EMIRATE OF AFGHANISTAN: ATTITUDES TOWARD POLITICAL PARTIES DURING 1996–2001 AND THE POST-2021 PERIOD
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Keywords:
Afghanistan; Taliban; post-conflict governance; ideological continuity; institutional politics; political participation.Abstract
This article examines the process of the re-establishment of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in two historical periods, namely 1996–2001 and after 2021, through a comparative historical and political analysis. The main objective of the study is to assess the Taliban movement’s ideological and practical attitude toward political parties and to evaluate the impact of this position on the development of political institutions and statehood in Afghanistan. By comparing these two periods, the article identifies both differences in political context and strong continuity in ideological orientation.
Although the international environment, regional dynamics, and internal socio-political conditions have changed considerably since the first Taliban regime, the movement’s rejection of party-based political participation has remained largely unchanged. This approach is rooted in a governance model that prioritizes centralized religious authority and views political pluralism as a source of social and ideological fragmentation. Consequently, political parties, representative institutions, and organized opposition remain excluded from the formal political system.
The absence of political parties has significant implications for political stability and post-conflict state-building. Without institutionalized mechanisms for representation and accountability, peaceful management of political competition becomes difficult, increasing the risk of informal power struggles and political fragmentation. Moreover, the lack of inclusive political institutions undermines both domestic legitimacy and prospects for international engagement. The article argues that this ideological resistance to political pluralism constitutes a major structural barrier to institutional consolidation and sustainable political development in Afghanistan, and it highlights the broader relevance of the Afghan case for understanding governance challenges in post-conflict societies.
