Tribalism and Fundamentalism: The Two Fundamental Hurdles of Democracy after 2001 in Afghanistan

Abstract

This paper elucidates the two ideologies that fundamentally lead to the failure of the regimes and often weakened the state: tribalism and religious fundamentalism. Both its social bed is the same and have a key role in returning of the Taliban after 2001. Except for the external supportive factors of the Taliban, the internal factors, the tribalism and fundamentalism and fund hegemonic resources such as Mullahs (clergies) and Madrasas are extremely rooted in the society and in the government that functioned actively to expand the Taliban ideology in the country since the formation of the modern state in Afghanistan (1880). This study also illustrates the return of the Taliban after 20 years of efforts for state-building in the country which proved still that fundamentalism and tribalism consider the main challenge versus state and nation-building in Afghanistan.