Democracy in Afghanistan: The 2014 Election and Beyond
Abstract
Afghanistan's upcoming presidential election--set for April 5, 2014--is the most important political event in that country's decade-long transition to democracy. While the overthrow of the Taliban, the Bonn Process of political reconstruction, and the initial rounds of elections in 2004-2005 and 2009 2010 started Afghanistan down the path of democratization, they were only a beginning. The most important election in a country's transition to democracy is not the first one, but the second or third--after the novelty and excitement of liberalization have faded, after international donors and observers have withdrawn, after the mundane reality of democratic politics sets in--and, crucially, after the first set of democratically elected leaders are replaced. In 2014, Afghanistan faces just such an election. Hamid Karzai will leave office, making him the first widely recognized Afghan leader ever to voluntarily and peacefully hand over power. Two previous rounds of elections have left some Afghans disillusioned and uncertain if real democracy--honest and competent--has a future in their country. International military forces handed over responsibility for the country's security to Afghan security forces in July and will be in the advanced stages of withdrawal next year. Donors, led by the United States, have already begun lessening their financial commitment to Afghanistan's political and economic reconstruction.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2014
- Accession Number
- ADA603642
Entities
People
- Paul D. Miller
Organizations
- RAND Corporation