On Thursday, January 14, 2021, the Afghan Institute for Strategic Studies (AISS), launched its recent research paper titled “The Republic and Its Enemies: The Status of the Republic in Afghanistan”. The launching ceremony was accompanied by a roundtable discussion with Dr. Omar Sadr, author of the research/university lecturer; Dr. Mujib Rahimi, advisor to the High Council for National Reconciliation; Dr. Nasrullah Stanekzai, lecturer at Kabul University; Atiq Arvand, history researcher. The event was moderated by Mahboba Fayaz, researcher.

Dr. Omar Sadr, while presenting the most important points of the research, said the aim of the research "The Republic and Its Enemies: The Status of the Republic in Afghanistan" is to provide a correct understanding of the republic because in Afghanistan it is always considered synonymous with democracy. According to him, Afghanistan has experienced three types of republican systems. 1) The Imperial Republic 2) The Socialist Republic and 3) The present Republic, which is almost twenty years old and all three republics are not based on original components. Regarding the current republic, he said, the leaders of the system, through their actions and approaches, have weaken the structures of the system and weaken the republicanism.

Dr. Mujib Rahimi said the research will be an effective step for scientific solidarity in the field of republic in Afghanistan, but the issues have not been discussed in detail. According to Dr. Rahimi, the republican systems in Afghanistan are not based on a scientific and theoretical approach, and those who were involved in shaping the current system were not so familiar with the concepts and components of the republic. He also added that Afghanistan is a pluralistic society and the problems can't be solved even by bringing changes to the constitution.

Dr. Nasrullah Stanekzai said the current study does not deal with historical issues in detail because the republican-type systems experienced in Afghanistan are different in different periods, for example, the Socialist Republic of 1978 is different in structure from the time of Dr. Najib and the components of the republic in it was less practical. He added that the survival of any system, including the republic, in addition to intellectual support, requires popular acceptance.

Atiq Arvand said that the republican systems in Afghanistan are not based on intellectual substance and the actions of the leaders have always been against the republic. He said the constitution needs amendments to prevent the president from showing power, and a strong civil society can influence the performance and decisions of political leaders, but Afghanistan lacks such a dynamic civic class.

You can find the full research paper in Farsi and English on the link below:

English:

https://aiss.af/persian/assets/aiss_publication/The-Republic-and-Its-Enemies-English.pdf

Farsi:

https://aiss.af/persian/assets/aiss_publication/The-Republic-and-Its-Enemies-Farsi.pdf