Journal of Political Socology of Islamic World

Journal of Political Socology of Islamic World

The Incomplete Nation: An Examination of the Role of Ethnicity in the Decline of State Structure and the Weakening of the Political Community in Afghanistan (1978–2021)

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Seyed Nosratullah Qobadi 1
Seyyed hosein athari 2
mehdi najafzadeh 3
1 Ferdowsi University of Mashhad
2 Associate Professor, Department of Political Science (Political Thought), Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
3 ferdowsi university of mashhad
10.22070/iws.2026.21159.2455
Abstract
Over the past four decades, Afghanistan has witnessed complex transformations rooted largely in deep ethnic and sectarian divisions. The country’s social structure is highly diverse and mosaic in nature; however, the distribution of political power has remained predominantly ethnocentric, hindering the effective participation of major ethnic groups in national decision-making processes. This study, using a descriptive–analytical method, explores the role of ethnicity in weakening the political community and contributing to the collapse of the Afghan state between 1978 and 2021. The findings reveal that subnational and ethnic identities have overshadowed national identity, intensifying mutual distrust, fostering fragile state structures, and perpetuating recurring power struggles. Furthermore, the inability of successive governments to manage ethnic diversity and establish equitable mechanisms for political participation has deepened crises of legitimacy and governance. Consequently, ethnic and sectarian cleavages have not only emerged as major barriers to nation-building and political institutionalization but have also, in conjunction with economic and institutional weaknesses, accelerated state disintegration and prolonged instability.
Subjects
Journal of Political Socology of Islamic World

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 23 August 2026

  • Receive Date 27 October 2025
  • Revise Date 15 July 2026
  • Accept Date 23 August 2026