ABSTRACT

This chapter begins by describing how significant the locality in rural settlements is and how it affects the notion of power in rural communities. Then it concentrates on methodological aspects of rural study. In other words, the chapter aims to draw a theoretical, methodological framework in order to reach a comprehensive perception of local politics in rural Afghanistan.

Accordingly, the chapter benefits from different theoretical frameworks, particularly the Herbert Gans’s use-centered theory and Pierre Bourdieu’s social space and habitus theories. Moreover, to support the discussion, some theories of Michel Foucault will be also considered. These principal theories offer an optimal methodological framework by which we can analyze different features of geographical places and their interconnections with the power structure in Afghan villages.