Identity Politics and Statebuilding in Post-Bonn Afghanistan: The 2009 Presidential Election

Abstract

International statebuilding in Afghanistan must be considered in terms of identity politics as they have emerged since the Bonn Agreement of 2001. In light of this, Afghanistan's 2009 presidential election serves as a window on the broader post-Bonn statebuilding process in which factionalized elite networks have constituted an internationally supported regime that masquerades as a state. Comparing political cultural and political economic explanations for the factionalism that was widespread during the elections, the paper demonstrates that the identity politics were contingent on the business of vote-rigging. In this light, the internationally assisted state is shown to be a site for inter-factional and inter-elite competition. This is a fundamentally unstable outcome that highlights the role of Western-led statebuilding in consolidating the ethno-regional and factional divisions in Afghanistan's state.

Notes

With the exception of Jonathan Goodhand's work on the political economy of war and peace (2002, 2004) and Antonio Giustozzi's work on warlords (2009).

We use ‘factionalism’ as a general term for solidarity groups based on kinship ties, be they actual or fictitious. Ethnic (e.g. Tajik versus Pashtun) and ethno-regional (e.g. Pansheri Tajik versus Kandahari Pashtun) divides are one form of factionalism. Other forms can include clan, tribal or other localized versions of factional ties.

Previous elite settlements were the Riwalpindi Accord 1989, the Peshawar Accord 1992 and the Macca Accord 1993.

Tanzim is used to refer to the ethno-regional military-political formations that emerged during the Jihad years against the Soviet Union.

This study draws on Sharan's 2 months of fieldwork during the 2009 presidential election in Afghanistan. Participant observation in three districts of Kabul (Dashte Barchi, district 13; Chaharrahi Sarsabzi and Shamali, district 11; and Karet Naw, district 8) was carried out. In addition, 24 in-depth interviews with key political informants such as ethnic-regional clients, leaders of political parties and campaign directors were conducted. Sharan wishes to thank his research assistant, Abbas Arianzay.

Our argument here is not that factionalism is a phenomenon of Central Asia or, more broadly, the underdeveloped or post-colonial worlds, but rather that it may be considered as taking certain forms within the region and thus, in this respect, a comparison between Afghanistan and the post-Soviet republics may be constructive.

Data were gathered by Sharan during research in Afghanistan in 2009. A total of five speeches of Karzai and eight speeches of Abdullah were recorded or transcribed. The candidates' speeches were collected personally in the field (e.g. Dr Abdullah's speech in Kabul Football Stadium on 17 August), or obtained from their campaign head quarters or from the local media. Sharan also recorded the slogans, photos and news items produced by the campaigns in Kabul city, where he was based.

Author interview, 10 October 2009.

Presidential TV debate, broadcast live on Radio and TV of Afghanistan (RTA) on 16 August 2009 (5–7 p.m.).

Kayhan Valley, Baghlan province, 6 August 2009.

Mazare-e- Sharif, Balkh province, 13 August 2009.

Pul-e-Khumri, Baghlan province, 22 July 2009.

This must be taken with caution as Jamiat has long been internally divided further into sub-branches and some of its elites have been co-opted to Karzai's network. For instance, Qasim Fahim, the Former Defence Secretary, joined Karzai as first vice-president, and Qanooni, the head of the House of Representatives who ran for presidency in 2004 against Karzai, has not openly declared his support for Abdullah. Qanooni set up his own party, Hizbe Afghanistani Naween.

Parwan, Parwan province, 5 August 2009.

Kabul Sport Stadium, 17 August 2009.

Author interview, Ali Cheraq, 10 September 2009.

Author interview, Kabul City, 14 September 2009.

Author interview, 5 August 2009.

Kabul City, 5 August 2009.

Author interview, 6 September 2009.

Author interview, 8 September 2009.

Author interview, 10 October 2009.

Sheberghan, Jawzjan province, 17 August 2009.

Nili, Dai-Kundi province, 14 August 2009.

Author interview, 6 August 2009.

Author interview, 8 August 2009.

Author interview, 2 September 2009.

Author interview, 27 August 2009.

Author interview, 10 September 2009.

Author interview, 13 September 2009.

A Group of 20 women at Dr Abdullah's Shar-e-Naw campaign headquarter, 12 August 2009.

Bijlert (2009) found the same observation.

Author interview, 13 September 2009.

Author interview with Kandahar's Independent Human Rights officers, 6 September 2009.

Author interview, 23 September 2009.

Author interview, Kabul City, 12 September 2009.

Peter Galbriath radio interview with On Point Radio, 1 October 2009, available online at: http://www.onpointradio.org/2009/10/peter-galbraith-on-afghan-election-fraud