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This book explores whether the legal and political institutions of Afghanistan have been able to incorporate diverse ethnic groups into the political process
List of contents
Introduction: Ethnicity, Constitution, and Accommodation in Afghanistan Identifying the Problem
The Search for an Explanation
A Way to Explore
Establishing the Parameters: Ethnic Accommodation
Organization of This Book
1 A Failed Nation or a Failed Constitution?: An Insight from the Inside of Afghanistan Introduction
I. What Afghanistanologists Had to Say About Afghanistan
II. Were Afghans Anti- Democratic?
III. How Divided was Afghanistan as a Country and a Nation?
What did the Elites Say?
IV. A Socially Divorced Constitution
Conclusion
2 The Politics of Ethnic Accommodation under the Runoff System: A System of Coalition Making and Breaking Introduction
I. Feature One: The 50 Percent Threshold
II. Feature Two: The Disastrous Second Rounds
III. Nonconcurrent Electoral Cycles
Conclusion
3 A Dysfunctional Parliament under the Yoke of the SNTV System: A System of Unrepresentative Representatives Introduction
I. The Nuts and Bolts of the SNTV System
A. Feature One: Proportional Representation
B. Feature Two: Encouraging Personalistic Politics
C. Feature Three: Threshold- Free Elections
D. Feature Four: Encouraging the Fragmentation of Parties and Coalition
Conclusion
4 Constitutional Unchecks and Imbalances: Examining Ethnic Accommodation under a Strong Presidential System Introduction
I. A Look at the Balance of Powers from Above
II. Legislative Powers of the President
1. Legislative Initiations
2. Veto Authority of the President
3. Soliciting Constitutional Review
4. Decree Authority of the President
5. Budget Planning
III. Executive Powers of the President vis-a-vis the House
1. Cabinet Formation
2. Endurance of Cabinet Members in Afghanistan
3. Changes in Administrative Units
IV. Senate: The Backyard of the President
Conclusion
5 A System of Dual Vice- Presidency: The Problematique of Unauthorized and Unaccountable Vice-Presidents Introduction
I. Dual Vice-Presidency and its Representational Attributes
II. Policy- Free Presidential Teams
III. The Irrelevant Vice- Presidents
Conclusion
6 A Centralized State in a Decentralized Society: Identity Politics in a Strongly Centralized System Introduction I. The Problem of Outsider Governors
II. Local Councils (Provincial, District, and Village)
Conclusion
7 A Failed Project of Party Nationalization: The Problem with the Party Laws of Afghanistan Introduction
I. Lack of Interest in Party Development
II. Command and Control Rules
III. Laws of Not the Emerging Coalitions
Conclusion
Conclusion Appendix
About the author
Dr. Bashir Mobasher is a postdoctoral fellow at the American University's Department of Sociology and a lecturer of political science at the American University of Afghanistan (AUAF).
