Democracy in Afghanistan has been severely limited and characterized by short, unstable historical periods since the formation of the contemporary state of Afghanistan in the 20th century. Following the rise of power of Ghazi Amanullah Khan in 1919, the first elements of a democratic government in the country began to emerge, with the formation of a constitution and increased civil liberties. Amanullah's political reforms resulted in his overthrow and for much of the rest of the 20th century, until 1964, there was limited democratization in the country. With the establishment of a bicameral national legislature in 1964 by King Zahir Shah, political parties began to form; however, none of these reforms were lasting after Zahir Shah's removal from power in 1973 and the formation of an autocratic Afghanistan republic.
The country experienced increasingly severe democratic backsliding from 1973 onwards, eventually falling under the undemocratic, religiously conservative Taliban rule in 1996. Democracy was reintroduced following the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, where an Islamic Republic with a president and relatively liberal constitution was reinstated. The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan was overthrown by the Taliban in 2021 and modern-day Afghanistan has again experienced democratic backsliding under the leadership of the Taliban.
History
Kingdom of Afghanistan (1919-1973) The first elements of a democratic government in the country began to emerge under the leadership of Ghazi Amanullah Khan, who ruled first as the Emir of the Emirate of Afghanistan and later as the first King of the Kingdom of Afghanistan. Amanullah instituted a number of political reforms modeled on the Western democratic model, including drafting the country's first constitution the "Statute of the Supreme Government of Afghanistan," which was approved and ratified by 872 tribal elders and government officials gathered in a Loya Jirga in Jalalabad on 11 April 1922. Amongst various liberal changes to Afghan's governance, one of the most notable elements that the constitution contained was article 16, which entitled all Afghan citizens equal rights and freedoms. Due to his significant popularity amongst the Afghan populace, and in line with his Western-outlook, Amanullah also implemented cultural reforms which eased restrictions on a number of civil liberties, particularly with regards to women's rights.
Under Amanullah's rule, new coeducational schools were formed in many regions and the strict Sharia-based dress codes for women that had existed for centuries were overturned. As a result of these social reforms, conservative Islamists in the country staged a revolt, leading to overthrow of Amanullah's government and the imposition of rule by Habibullāh Kalakāni, leader of the "Saqqawists" opposition movement in early 1929. Kalakani's rule lasted only nine months before he was replaced by exiled general Nadir Khan on 13 October 1929. After his rise to power, Nadir abandoned most of Amanullah's reforms, although his son and successor king Mohammad Zahir Shah made a more gradual program of reform. It wasn't until 1964 that major democratic reforms would be reinstituted, with King Zahir Shah promulgating a new liberal constitution creating a bicameral national legislature.
Republic of Afghanistan (1973-1989) On July 17, 1973, amidst increasing discontent with King Zahir Shah's government, former Prime Minister Mohammad Sardar Daoud Khan seized power in a non-violent coup and abolished the monarchy, establishing the first Republic of Afghanistan. Under Daoud, the 1964 constitution was abrogated and he consolidated power to himself, declaring himself both President and Prime Minister. The political assassination of prominent communist and member of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) Mir Akbar Khyber by the government in 1978 by the government sparked fears amongst the communist opposition of Daoud's intentions. As a result, on 28 April 1978, the PDPA overthrew Daoud's government in the Saur Revolution. Renamed the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan (DRA), the new government, while granting increased civil rights, became extremely repressive and thousands were killed or imprisoned as most regions across the country began to revolt against the new government.