Afghans favor and understand democracy

An overwhelming majority of Afghans favor democratic government and demonstrate a surprisingly sophisticated understanding of democracy, as per a new analysis by UC Irvine political scientist Russell Dalton. Violence and instability in certain regions, however, remain a significant threat to democracy's development.

Dalton, who helped develop and analyze The Asia Foundation's 2006 survey of Afghans, a follow-up to a 2004 survey, finds that 84 percent of Afghans believe that democracy is the best form of government, and the same percentage define democracy in terms of political rights such as freedom and government by the people.

"The strength of support for democracy and the richness of the Afghans' understanding of democratic concepts are stunning," said Dalton, professor of political science and a faculty member in UCI's Center for the Study of Democracy.

Support of democracy is stronger in Afghanistan than in Pakistan, Iran, Iraq or Indonesia, as per Dalton, and Afghans' support is relatively uniform across social groups like Pashtuns, Tajiks, Uzbeks and Hazaras.

"We want democracy to bring peace in our country and to rebuild the country," said one Tajik male in Jalalabad who was interviewed in the course of the research.

However, Dalton's analysis shows that in some areas of the country, democratic principles may be undermined. Belief that political opinions can be freely expressed varies across regions, and Afghans in regions of conflict in the Southwest, near Kandahar, and the East, near Pakistan, have the greatest doubts about their ability to express themselves freely. These doubts can dangerously erode democratic participation, Dalton notes.

"The threat of violence and coercion amid conflict means that people withdraw from the political process, representing a significant threat to democracy," said Dalton.

There also is increasing tension in Afghanistan over whether democracy and Islam can coexist, as per the analysis. A growing portion - more than one-third - now say democracy challenges Islam's values. In addition, the minority of Afghans who favor a role for religious leaders in national politics are less supportive of a democratic system. Dalton emphasizes that the perceptions of democracy and Islam will need to be reconciled for democracy to survive in the country.

Nevertheless, Afghans report that they feel optimistic about their future - even more optimistic about their country's direction than Americans are about the U.S., Dalton said. And, he points out, they have good reason to be. Afghans have been governed over the past 30 years by a monarchy, a dictatorship, a communist regime and the Taliban.

A vast majority of Afghans - 96 percent - said democracy provides them with personal benefits such as security, stability, prosperity or women's rights. This was up from 64 percent in the 2004 survey.

These findings represent a deepening understanding of democracy, which surprised Dalton because the country is one of the world's poorest and has low literacy - factors commonly considered unsuitable for nurturing democracy.

"We used to believe that understanding and embracing democracy mandatory a certain level of education and economic development," said Dalton. "But, in reality, most people in most places would rather control their own lives than have someone else control them".


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