The Effective Factors of Economic Underdevelopment in Afghanistan

Zuhal Nabi (20 October 2019)

Afghanistan has experienced several periods of civil war over the past decades. These conflicts have devastated all sources of economic development in the country. Almost the entire economic infrastructure of the country, from roads to administrative structures, was destroyed, which had a serious impact on Afghanistan’s economic development.

Almost from the 19th century and later on, Afghanistan has never had the essential political stability – except a brief interlude under King Zahir Shah. In addition, during the two centuries, the rulers of the country failed to pursue economic and political development by adopting sound policies. So countries’ backwardness is not something caused by one phenomenon, but rather intertwined factors that delay the development process. These economic, political, and social factors come together and challenge any strategy to achieve economic development.

Whatever the causes and reasons, the recent crisis in the country has been going on for at least thirty years and has left us far behind in human civilization in access to health, housing, education, employment. Even the things which are considered as basic necessities and rights for any citizen are luxuries in Afghanistan. In fact, in several parts of the country, people are starving to death. What can we do to get rid of this situation?

The economic underdevelopment of the country is influenced by various internal and external factors, which means that the economic backwardness of the country has various factors such as political, economic, social and cultural factors. Thereby, the country’s economic underdevelopment cannot be limited to any factor.

Given the evidences, most of the country’s underdevelopment is influenced by political factors, meaning that the government should focus more on that. Internal factors have also played an important role in the country’s economic underdevelopment as unless the country does not have good communication between them and are unable to cope with difficulties; then it cannot address the country’s backwardness.

Such a country cannot become self-sufficient. Hereby, foreign countries (external factors) will succeed in interfering with the country’s economic and political system. They would want to subordinate the country, that is, to colonize the country as a whole, severely affecting the field of development and creating a kind of political and economic dependence.

Afghanistan lacks structured institutions to set up new development systems as traditional mindsets and pre-modern readings still dominate, resulting in socio-economic underdevelopment. Major causes of Afghanistan’s underdevelopment are rooted in historical underdevelopment, and its associated relationships with lack of development funds, failure to organize and manage resources, structural constraints on the ability to function differently, lack of efficient workforce in various economic and social sectors, and structural and instrumental inability to exploit natural resources. The sustainability of traditional and contemporary political institutions has also been linked to the war economy, looting, receiving pensions, and external assistance.

Consequently, Political institutions in Afghanistan have been unable to fund the annual expenditure and development projects as taxation system still remains weak. These drawbacks have made Afghanistan dependent on international development and humanitarian assistance. It has been struggling with livelihoods throughout its contemporary history, and have relied on external assistance and funding for the last 100 years.

Ultimately, economic development requires a strong government, to act strongly in law enforcement, and fight against illegal activities and mafia with strong political and economic institutions. As long as we do not have a strong government in the country that can handle complex political and economic issues at the national and regional level, the development of the country will remain a dream. Based on the historical experience of developed countries of the world, we do not see any example of development in these countries without government intervention.

Government is a key element in the development process that must play an active role in the development process. But in Afghanistan, as we see over the years, the government has chosen market strategy as a path to development. In many cases, the government appears to have completely forgotten its responsibilities. Consequently, we have a very weak government with increasing influences of different mafia groups on most economic and political institutions due to corruptions and the dominance of clientelism among different social groups in politics.

Failure to comply with the law of the land means failure of government development plans. Only a strong government can make the path to economic development shorter and more secure.

Zuhal Nabi graduated from the Kabul University, Department of National Economics in 2017. She used to run a small business for Afghan housewife from 2010 till 2013. Currently, She is working with the ACKU Research and Communications Department.