بررسی تداخلات فرهنگی در مشارکت سیاسی مردم افغانستان در دوره جمهوریت؛ روایتی از پیچیدگی‌های نقش قومیت، مذهب و تحزب

Abstract
This research aims to investigate the role of cultural factors in the political participation of the Afghan people. According to the holding of four elections in the republic period in Afghanistan between 2001 and 2021, various factors have played a role in people's participation. In Afghanistan's diverse cultural background, ethnic and religious factors have determined the quality of people's political participation above all. The data for this study were collected through semi-structured interviews and then analyzed using the Grounded Theory method, including coding and thematic extraction. According to the findings of this research, a foundation shaped by a national political culture that has developed at all levels of Afghan society, alongside factors such as the weak and corrupt performance of the government and the interference of elements resulting from the negative performance of political institutions, led to the Afghan nation's strategy in response to these conditions. This strategy includes a lack of a sense of duty towards the country's political future and a sense of despair and hopelessness regarding the government's performance. The consequence of this process is the perpetuation of undemocratic and people-averse conditions, strengthening the roots of despotism in the country. This, coupled with the absence of the necessary social groundwork and structural weaknesses for achieving democracy, facilitated the conditions for the resurgence of Taliban rule.
 
1. Introduction
Political participation is a crucial requirement in the contemporary world, serving as a key indicator of democracy within political systems. Elections, as a fundamental criterion, provide individuals with a practical means to engage in societal governance and express their views (Arabi et al., 2023: 204). Even totalitarian regimes, whether closed or multi-system, acknowledge the symbolic importance of public involvement, particularly in political events and occasions, across various domains.
Among the different forms of societal participation, political engagement holds significant relevance as it directly relates to the legitimacy of political systems. By studying the political participation of a given society, we can gain insights into the political behaviors of its citizens and identify the factors influencing changes in their level of political involvement within different social contexts (Ravandi et al., 2022: 44).
Afghanistan's turbulent history, characterized by perpetual warfare and unrest, eventually witnessed the withdrawal of the Taliban in 2001 and establishment of the Republic era's governments. This marked a turning point, allowing for greater political involvement of the Afghan people across various arenas, ultimately shaping the country's political future. Throughout four rounds of presidential elections and multiple rounds of parliamentary and provincial council elections, the people's political participation has consistently manifested in the electoral landscape. However, the extent to which this participation directly influences election outcomes remains a subject of debate. In addition to political factors that have played significant roles in short-term and long-term political engagement, the distinct aspect of cultural diversity in Afghanistan—rooted in ethnic and religious differences—combined with the complexities arising from religious and political partisanship, has directly impacted the manner and quality of the people's political participation.
The mention of cultural interferences in Afghanistan is directly connected to the numerous political and social challenges that arise from ethnic and religious issues within the country. Furthermore, the political participation of the Afghan people, often driven by their adherence to ethnic and religious values, highlights the intricate relationship between cultural interferences and political engagement.
To address this, the present research aimed to examine the role and correlation of cultural interferences with the political participation of individuals during the Republic era elections. Specifically, this study placed significant emphasis on the impact of ethnicity, religion, and partisanship. The researchers and participants involved in this study made evident efforts to explore the influential factors associated with these three components.
1.1. Research Methodology
This research held significant importance as it focused on a fundamental issue in Afghanistan and its connection to both national and international contexts. Given the heightened challenges and complexities compared to domestic studies, this research necessitated heightened sensitivity.
To conduct this research, semi-structured interviews were employed, consisting of 17 questions, with Afghan citizens. The selection of interviewees considered various factors, such as gender, religion, ethnicity, literacy level, and residency within Afghanistan. After establishing the necessary groundwork for the interviews and identifying suitable participants, the data were collected through semi-structured interviews conducted between August and November 2022. Each interview typically lasted between 1.5 to 3 hours.
During the analysis process, the interview transcripts were thoroughly reviewed multiple times, leading to the extraction of over 120 concepts from meaningful sentences through open coding. These concepts were then organized into 22 subcategories and further condensed into 13 abstract and main categories through axial coding. Finally, a core category titled "Cultural Interferences and Political Participation in Afghanistan" was derived, providing a comprehensive and concise summary of all the main categories and facilitating a narrative analysis of the data.
2. Discussion
In this research, the central and overarching category that consistently emerged from the data, encompassing all other main categories, was identified as "Cultural Interferences and Political Participation in Afghanistan." This central phenomenon aimed to explore the factors influencing the political engagement of the Afghan people. It was observed that this phenomenon stemmed from key categories, including the "fundamental weaknesses in national and local political institutions", "lack of commitment to the country's political future (non-participation in elections, lack of resistance to Taliban rule)", "marginalization and exclusion of women and political elites by a corrupt and rent-seeking government", "ineffective governance hindering the implementation of democracy in Afghanistan", and "continuation of authoritarian roots due to people's political passivity".
It became evident that even when opportunities for popular participation were present in the country, the people, disillusioned by their loss of trust in the government and the failure to witness positive outcomes from their engagement, chose political passivity. This decision had ultimately led to one of the most significant shifts in the past two decades—the swift rise to power and re-domination of the Taliban. The government's involvement in profiteering and the undemocratic political climate, which restricted the constructive functioning of non-governmental political institutions, contributed to the realization of the Taliban's resurgence.
Throughout the analysis, the influence of ethnocentrism and extreme ethnic divisions at various levels of Afghan society, particularly in government policy-making, as well as pervasive corruption among the government and its affiliates, were noted as factors that discouraged people from trusting the government. This disillusionment and despair formed the basis for the lack of resistance and compliance among the population in the face of the Taliban.
Furthermore, Afghanistan's dependence on foreign countries and unwarranted external interference not only hindered effective governance, but also contributed to people's disillusionment with the government. Foreign involvement extended beyond political affairs, exerting a significant influence in other areas. Although Afghanistan lacked the necessary ideological and mental infrastructure for implementing democracy, these conditions exacerbated a larger obstacle to democratization—the dominance of ethnic interests and weak governance in the country. This aspect, encompassing improper management by democracy executors, absence of a conducive democratic environment, and prioritization of individual and ethnic interests over societal interests by the government, elucidated this factor.
3. Conclusion
This research provided a comprehensive analysis of the role of cultural factors in shaping the political participation of the Afghan people. By delving into the root causes and consequences of ethnic and religious challenges, it shed light on their direct impact on political engagement. The data collected from semi-structured interviews, which underwent coding and analysis based on grounded theory, clearly demonstrated the intertwined influence of cultural and political factors on Afghan society's political participation.
A significant finding of this research was identification of a platform that had emerged through the interactions of ethnic political culture at various levels of Afghan society. This platform, due to the government's weak and ineffective performance, coupled with ineffective interventions from political entities, had led to a diminished sense of responsibility among the people towards the country's political future, ultimately resulting in disillusionment with the government's efficacy. Therefore, this research underscored the insufficiency of cultural factors alone and highlighted the need for reforms in government performance and political institutions, particularly in terms of transparency and effectiveness.
Promoting a participatory culture as a civic duty, fostering hope, and encouraging public engagement are among the recommendations put forth, which can yield positive outcomes and pave the way for the establishment of a democratic and sustainable society in Afghanistan.
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