Politics of Afghanistan

The politics of Afghanistan are based on a totalitarian emirate within the Islamic theocracy in which the Taliban Movement holds a monopoly on power. Dissent is not permitted, and politics are mostly limited to internal Taliban policy debates and power struggles. As the government is provisional, there is no constitution or other basis for the rule of law. The structure is autocratic, with all power concentrated in the hands of the supreme leader and his clerical advisors. Afghanistan has been unstable for decades, with frequent coups, civil wars, and violent transfers of power. Most recently, the Taliban seized power in 2021 from the Western-backed Islamic Republic, and re-formed the government to implement a far stricter interpretation of Sharia law according to the Hanafi school. Government operation in Afghanistan historically has consisted of power struggles, coups and unstable transfers of power. The country has been governed by various systems of government, including a monarchy, republic, theocracy, dictatorship, and a pro-communist state. 1709 – Mirwais Hotak establishes the Hotaki dynasty at Kandahar and declares Afghanistan (land of the Afghans) an independent state. 1747 – Ahmad Shah Durrani establishes the Durrani Empire and adds to it new territories. 1818 - Execution of Fateh Khan Barakzai, collapse of the Durrani Empire over the next few years. 1826 - Rise of Dost Mohammad Khan in Kabul. 1838 – British India invades the land during the First Anglo-Afghan War in an attempt to restore Shah Shuja Durrani to the throne of Afghanistan. This would be the beginning of foreign influence in the politics of Afghanistan. The Great Game (rivalry between the British Empire and the Russian Empire over Afghanistan) begins. 1842 - The British are defeated and the Barakzais are restored to the throne under Dost Mohammad Khan. 1855 - Dost Mohammad Khan adds Kandahar to his realm following the Conquest of Kandahar. 1863 - Dost Mohammad Khan successfully completes the re-unification of most of Afghanistan following the Herat campaign of 1862–1863.