Legal System Resilience in Afghanistan: Dynamics of Pluralism and Political Transformation
Abstract
Afghanistan is a multiethnic country with a complex legal system characterized by intricate interactions between Islamic law, customary law, and modern legal frameworks. This research critically examines the resilience mechanisms of Afghanistan's legal and judicial systems within the context of persistent political uncertainty and societal pluralism. Employing a descriptive qualitative methodology and comprehensive literature review, the study analyzes legal documents, international reports, and academic literature spanning the post-Taliban period from 2001 to the present. The research investigates the dynamic challenges confronting Afghanistan's legal infrastructure, particularly its capacity to integrate diverse normative systems while maintaining institutional legitimacy. Key findings reveal significant complexities in Afghanistan's legal landscape. The system encounters substantial obstacles in harmonizing Islamic legal principles, traditional customary practices, and contemporary legal standards. Family law reforms emerge as a critical focal point, demonstrating progressive attempts to enhance women's rights while simultaneously navigating conservative societal resistance. The research illuminates the intricate interplay between legal pluralism, political transformation, and institutional adaptation. It highlights how Afghanistan's judicial system continuously negotiates between preserving traditional legitimacy, accommodating societal diversity, and meeting international normative standards. The study recommends a comprehensive, nuanced approach to judicial reform that holistically considers cultural diversity, respects traditional values, and aligns with international human rights principles. By exploring the mechanisms of legal resilience in a conflict-affected context, this research contributes valuable insights into understanding adaptive strategies within complex, multi-layered legal systems. The findings provide a critical framework for comprehending how legal institutions can maintain functionality and relevance amid profound political and social transformations.
References
Akpuokwe, C. U., Adeniyi, A. O., Bakare, S. S., & Eneh, N. E. (2024). The impact of judicial reforms on legal systems: a review in African countries. International Journal of Applied Research in Social Sciences, 6(3), 198–211. https://doi.org/10.51594/ijarss.v6i3.850
Al-Bar, M. A., & Chamsi-Pasha, H. (2015). Contemporary bioethics: Islamic perspective. Springer Nature.
Ardak, A. L. I. W. (2016). State and non-state justice systems in Afghanistan : The need for synergy State And Non-State Justice Systems In Afghanistan : The Need For Synergy. January 2011.
Armytage, L. (2007). Justice in Afghanistan Rebuilding Judicial Competence After the Generation of War. 10, 185–210.
Asylos/Clifford Chance. (2022). Availability of and access to employment.
Ata, R., Wasiq, A. G., & Zamani, A. H. (2023). The Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards: The New York Convention and the Afghan Law Perspectives. American Journal of Law and Political Science. https://doi.org/10.58425/ajlps.v2i4.222
Ayu, S., Asasriwarni, & Zulfan. (2015). Peradilan Agama Di Negara Afganistan. Yudisia, 6(2), 313–339.
Azizi, J. N. (2020). History of Parliament in Afghanistan. 8(5), 897–907.
Barrett, P. (2022). The fiscal cost of conflict: Evidence from Afghanistan 2005–2017. World Development, 157, 105940. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2022.105940
Baye, F., Wegayehu, F., & Mulugeta, S. (2020). Dataset on demographic and Socio-economic triggers of informal settlements: a case study from the peri-urban areas of Woldia. Data in Brief. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2020.105667
BN, A. M. T., Arief, A., & Fadli. (2023). Pembaruan Hukum Keluarga Di Dunia Islam. In Familia: Jurnal Hukum Keluarga (Vol. 4, Issue 1). https://doi.org/10.24239/familia.v4i1.83
Bukido, R., & Aminah, S. (2024). Is Islamic Family Law Fair for Women Not Working After Divorce? Antmind Review: Journal of Sharia and Legal Ethics, 1(2), 51–59. https://journal.aye.or.id/index.php/JSLE/article/view/11
Choudhury, N. (2010). Reconceptualizing legal pluralism in Afghanistan. The Selected Proceedings Of The 3rd Annual Canadian Law Student Conference, S. Alex Constantin et Al., Ed., Windsor, 21–52.
Coto, A., & Evangelides, A. (2016). The Rule of Law in Afghanistan.
Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2017). Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches - John W. Creswell, Cheryl N. Poth - Google 图书. SAGE Publications.
Elliesie, H. (2006). Rule of Law in Afghanistan. December 2001.
Fanani, M. F., & Andri, A. (1970). Sejarah Islam dan Politik di Afghanistan. Tamaddun: Jurnal Kebudayaan Dan Sastra Islam, 21(2), 91–112. https://doi.org/10.19109/tamaddun.v21i2.9681
Fatianda, S. (2023). Politik Islam di Afghanistan: Studi Terhadap Kekuasaan Kelompok Taliban. Local History & Heritage, 3(1), 12–19. https://doi.org/10.57251/lhh.v3i1.907
Fazal, F. A., & Chakravarty, R. (2021). Researcher development models and library research support. In Library Hi Tech News. https://doi.org/10.1108/LHTN-04-2021-0015
Fazli, F. H., Maidin, A. J., & Omoola, S. (2024). Jirga In Afghanistan: Its Functions, Contemporary Challenges, and Future Prospects. IIUM Law Journal, 32(2), 267–296. https://doi.org/10.31436/iiumlj.v32i2.977
Giancotti, M., Rotundo, G., & Mauro, M. (2024). Factors affecting judicial system efficiency: a systematic mapping review with a focus on Italy. International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, 73(9), 2951–2971. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPPM-05-2023-0215
Goodson, L., & Johnson, T. H. (2011). Parallels with the Past – How the Soviets Lost in Afghanistan, How the Americans are Losing. Orbis, 55(4), 577–599. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orbis.2011.07.009
Hanif, A., Zakiri, J. A., Mirzahi, S., Asim, G. M., & Nadeem, G. F. (2024). Analysis of contextual factors influencing the development of unplanned settlements: The case of Herat City, Afghanistan. City, Culture and Society, 39, 100607. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccs.2024.100607
Hoodfar, H. (2007). Women, religion and the ‘Afghan Education Movement’ in Iran. The Journal of Development Studies, 43(2), 265–293. https://doi.org/10.1080/00220380601125115
Hughes, G. (2008). The Soviet–Afghan War, 1978–1989: An Overview 1. Defence Studies, 8(3), 326–350. https://doi.org/10.1080/14702430802252511
Jamil Hanifi, M. (2011). Review Essay: Vending distorted Afghanistan through patriotic ‘anthropology.’ Critique of Anthropology, 31(3), 256–270. https://doi.org/10.1177/0308275X11416491
Janos Jany. (2020). Concurrent Customary Laws. 4.
Johnson, T. H., & Mason, M. C. (2007). Understanding the Taliban and Insurgency in Afghanistan. Orbis, 51(1), 71–89. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orbis.2006.10.006
Justino, P. (2025). Revisiting the links between economic inequality and political violence: The role of social mobilization. World Development, 185, 106820. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2024.106820
Luis Guterres, V. M., Marhaeni, A. A. I. N., Dewi, M. H. U., & Mustika, M. D. S. (2024). The Tradition Of Dowry And Gender Equality Issues: A Literature Review. Journal of World Science, 3(9), 1185–1197. https://doi.org/10.58344/jws.v3i9.721
Maley, W. (2002). Reconstructing Afghanistan: Opportunities and challenges. Recovery from Armed Conflict in Developing Countries, 245–277.
Martin, R. (2006). The rule of law in Zimbabwe. Round Table, 95(384), 239–253. https://doi.org/10.1080/00358530600585032
Marzuki, I. (2019). Politik Hukum Poligami (Studi terhadap Peraturan Perundang-Undangan di Negara-Negara Muslim). Al-Manahij: Jurnal Kajian Hukum Islam, 13(1), 141–157. https://doi.org/10.24090/mnh.v13i1.1799
Mashwani, H. U. (2017). Female education in Afghanistan: Opportunities and challenges. International Journal for Innovative Research in Multidisciplinary Field, 3(11).
McNair, B. (2006). Cultural chaos: journalism and power in a globalised world. Routledge.
Mendoza, K. (2008). Islam and Islamism in Afghanistan. Islamic Legal Studies Program, Harvard.
Musta’id, A. (2022). Sejarah Islam dan Politik Afghanistan. Fajar Historia: Jurnal Ilmu Sejarah Dan Pendidikan, 6(2), 214–227. https://doi.org/10.29408/fhs.v6i2.6605
Nader, N., & Debian, R. E. A. (2017). Winds of Change: Egypt’s Islamic Family Law Between Two Centuries (1920–2013). In North African Women after the Arab Spring (pp. 211–238). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-49926-0_11
Nafi’ah, H. A., Fahmi, C., & Tarantang, J. (2024). Exploring the Social and Economic Implications of Talaq in Islamic Law. Antmind Review: Journal of Sharia and Legal Ethics, 1(1), 23–30.
Naibaho, R., Studi, P., & Hukum, I. (2021). Peranan mahkamah agung dalam penegakan hukum dan keadilan melalui kekuasaan kehakiman. 02, 203–214.
Noury, A. G., & Speciale, B. (2016). Social constraints and women’s education: Evidence from Afghanistan under radical religious rule. Journal of Comparative Economics, 44(4), 821–841. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jce.2016.07.005
Park, H. (Ed.). (2020). Media Culture in Transnational Asia. Rutgers University Press.
Rubin, B., & Rudeforth, C. (2016). Enhancing access to education: Challenges and opportunities in Afghanistan. Center in International Cooperation, New York University, New York.
Rusyd, I. (2004). Bidayatul Mujtahid fi Nihayatil Maqasid.
Salindri, D., Widuatie, M. R. E., Handayani, S. A., & Rosyidah, N. (2024). Dinamika Politik Afghanistan pasca Mundurnya Uni Soviet hingga Masa Enduring Freedom, 1989-2001. Fajar Historia: Jurnal Ilmu Sejarah Dan Pendidikan, 8(2), 331–341. https://doi.org/10.29408/fhs.v8i2.24068
Salsabila, D. I. (2023). Latar Belakang Berkuasanya Kembali Taliban Di Afghanistan Pada Tahun 2021. Jurnal Pena Wimaya, 3(2). https://doi.org/10.31315/jpw.v3i2.10218
Sethi, A. (2022). Afghanistan: Review of Constitutional Law 2021.
Sethi, A., Zai, S. S., Phalnikar, A., Chatterjee, S., & Vishwas Sheth, A. (2024). Afghanistan: Review of Constitutional Reform 2023.
Shah, N. A. (2005). The Constitution of Afghanistan and Women’s Rights. Feminist Legal Studies, 13(2), 239–258. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10691-005-7543-7
Shams, A. K., & Muhammad, N. S. (2023). Towards sustainable transboundary water cooperation between Afghanistan and Pakistan: A case study of Kabul River. Ain Shams Engineering Journal, 14(2), 101842. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asej.2022.101842
Sharp, T. W., Burkle, F. M., Vaughn, A. F., Chotani, R., & Brennan, R. J. (2002). Challenges and Opportunities for Humanitarian Relief in Afghanistan. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 34(Supplement_5), S215–S228. https://doi.org/10.1086/340706
Shroder, J. F. (2014a). 1 - Introduction: Historical Overview of Afghanistan at War. In J. F. Shroder (Ed.), Natural Resources in Afghanistan (pp. 1–13). Elsevier. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-800135-6.00001-5
Shroder, J. F. (2014b). 20 - Pessimistic Scenarios: Incessant War in Afghanistan. In J. F. Shroder (Ed.), Natural Resources in Afghanistan (pp. 526–546). Elsevier. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-800135-6.00020-9
Singh, D. (2015). Explaining varieties of corruption in the Afghan Justice Sector. Journal of Intervention and Statebuilding, 9(2), 231–255. https://doi.org/10.1080/17502977.2015.1033093
Smith, S. S. (2019). Loya Jirgas and Political Crisis Management in Afghanistan: Drawing on the Bank of Tradition. JSTOR.
Stanikzai, I. U., Seerat, A. H., & Humdard, W. U. (2024). Role of Sustainable Tourism in Preserving Cultural Heritage of Afghanistan. Society & Sustainability, 5(2), 30–38. https://doi.org/10.38157/ss.v5i2.594
Swenson, G. (2017). Why U.S. Efforts to Promote the Rule of Law in Afghanistan Failed. International Security, 42(1), 114–151. https://doi.org/10.1162/ISEC_a_00285
Syarifuddin, H. (2016). Islam Modern Di Afghanistan. Istiqra’, 4(1), 60–66.
Thohir, A. (2019). Studi Kawasan Dunia lslam Prespektif Etno-Linguistik dan Geo-Politik. 428.
Toisuta, H. (2013). Hukum Keluarga Di Afghanistan. Tahkim Jurnal, Volume XI, 34–48.
Vaismoradi, M., Turunen, H., & Bondas, T. (2013). Content analysis and thematic analysis: Implications for conducting a qualitative descriptive study. Nursing & Health Sciences, 15(3), 398–405. https://doi.org/10.1111/nhs.12048
Wahib, A. B. (1967). Reformasi hukum keluarga di dunia Muslim. 1–19.
Yawar, M. E. (2023). Factors affecting the failure of the government in Afghanistan Taliban under the guidance of regional security group theory. Akademik Tarih ve Dusunce Dergisi. https://doi.org/10.46868/atdd.2023.610
Younus, M., & Shahzad, A. (2020). Democracy in Afghanistan and External Actors. Journal of Arts & Social Sciences, 7(1).
Zayyadi, A., & Faiz, M. F. (2020). Masa Reformasi: Etatisasi Hukum. Indonesian Journal of Islamic Law, 2(2), 20–34.
Zubair, A. (2021). Afghanistan: History, Culture, and Tradition in A Thousand Splendid Suns. Research Journal of English Language and Literature, 9(3), 198–204. https://doi.org/10.33329/rjelal.9.3.198
Copyright (c) 2024 Nailatul Fadhilah Agusti, Zulfan Zulfan, Yusnita Eva, Zakkiyu Muhammad, Md Yazid Ahmad
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
