Voting Together: Why Afghanistan’s 2009 Elections were (and were not) a Disaster
Date
2009-11
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Publisher
Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit (AREU)
Abstract
The Afghan elections in
2009 have become infamous
for low turnout, fraud and
insecurity. Delay in announcing
the results and rumours of
private negotiations have
increased existing scepticism
of the electoral process among
national and international
commentators. What has been
overlooked, however, is the
way in which—at least at the
local level—these elections
have been used to change the
balance of power in a relatively
peaceful manner. In many
areas of Afghanistan, the polls
emphasised local divisions and
groupings, and highlighted the importance of political and voting
blocs (which can include ethnic groups, qawms, or even family
units) in determining political outcomes. Also, while perhaps not
“legitimate” by international standards, these elections reflected the
highly localised cultural and social context in which they took place:
a context that is often patronage-based and in which power is gained
through constant struggle and dialogue between political groups and
leaders.
This study presents the August 2009 electoral process as it played out
in three different areas of Kabul Province: Dasht-i Barchi, Qarabagh
and Istalif. In each of these locations, the presidential and provincial
council elections were key events in shifting the balance of local
power. These areas also demonstrate the different ways in which
voting blocs functioned and, while not representative of the country
as a whole, provide valuable insights into the meaning and usefulness
of elections at the local level.
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Keywords
Political participation -- Afghanistan., Elections -- Afghanistan.