Governance in Afghanistan An Introduction

Afghanistan is not new to governance reform. But the establishment of a sound system of public administration is a long-term process depending on strong, sustained and coordinated partnership between and within the Afghan government and the international community. Government reform implementation requires an accurate understanding of the Afghan context which is characterized by difficult geography, ethnic divisions, religious supremacy, a young demographic, patriarchal society, authority-driven leadership practices and continued conflict. Strong informal, feudal, top-down governance mechanisms overwhelm the on-paper appearance of the Afghan government where patronage trumps law enforcement.