Local political organization in Afghanistan

Examining politics in one of the world’s weakest states gives us insight into the vast capabilities individuals have for self-governance. Although many analysts equate state weakness with ungovernability,¹ this chapter shows how individuals and communities in rural Afghanistan create and sustain informal political organizations that help them overcome collective action dilemmas. Informal organizations are not just a relic of tradition. Instead, individuals rely on customary sources of organization and update them with new rules to help them address contemporary challenges as well as residents’ demands for increased participation and accountability. These dynamic informal local political organizations, such as leaders who derive their positions from the community and are based at the community level, sit in stark contrast with dynamics of formal government. Despite massive investments in reform, formal political organization in Afghanistan remains—at least in its de facto incarnations—largely unresponsive and unaccountable.