Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy

Meanwhile, strong international interference has strengthened the perception that political ownership and accountability lie outside Afghanistan. Public and political support for the 43,000 NATO troops has dwindled. As the Taliban gain territory and popularity, the official authorities have seen their legitimacy decline.

Insecurity constitutes the most imminent threat to the functioning of democracy, especially in the southern and eastern provinces bordering Pakistan. Casualties amongst civilians and NGO workers increased. The general sense of insecurity has also impeded civil society’s accountability role.

International assistance started to focus on revitalizing the official judicial system, as Afghans increasingly turned towards less corrupt traditional or Taliban courts. However, the planned tribunal for war crimes and human rights violations has not yet been established. Meanwhile, the parliament passed an amnesty law under which past human rights violators can no longer be prosecuted. So far, President Karzai has resisted endorsing the bill.

2007 saw a deteriorating relationship between the government and parliament, as votes of no-confidence were directed at various cabinet ministers. Many Afghans, including President Karzai, continue to distrust political parties. The newly formed United National Front (UNF) favours a change from the presidential to a parliamentary system and the election of provincial governors. Although criticism against the current single non-transferable vote (SNTV) electoral system for Afghanistan’s Lower House continued, a revision did not materialize.

Reformist forces under pressure

The development of political parties in 2007 presents a somewhat ambiguous picture. At least twenty-two parties are represented in parliament. A tendency toward party grouping emerged, which could eventually lead to improved coalescence and effective formulation of political stances. Internal party organization structures continued to be weak due to a lack of experience, autocratic leadership and financial shortages.

Conservative forces within political parties grew stronger, while reformists felt they were being increasingly marginalized. Also, within parliament democratic forces came under increasing pressure from the new United National Front (UNF), a coalition of conservative opposition groups. In response their more liberal counterpart in parliament, the Third Line Group, grew weaker.
 

NIMD Programme

In 2007 NIMD has further prepared a programme proposal for Afghanistan. In May an NIMD mission, led by former Netherlands Minister of Foreign Affairs and current NIMD President Bernard Bot, visited Kabul. The delegation held intense consultations with Afghans from all walks of life as well as with the Afghan government and the international donor community.

The new programme should primarily focus on political education at the regional and local levels and will most likely be based on NIMD’s experience with Democracy Schools in Indonesia. A secondary part of the programme anticipates direct collaboration with political parties at a later stage. Provided funding is secured, the programme will start in 2008.