Publications
Rethinking Local Governance and External Engagement in Afghanistan
Release Date
2026-05
Language
- English
Topics
- Building Peace and Social Cohesion
The Taliban’s return to power in August 2021 has been accompanied by an active effort to reshape both national and sub-national governance, reordering authority around religious leadership and centralised control. At the same time, local governance institutions in Afghanistan remain plural and hybrid: Customary structures continue to operate but are increasingly reshaped, co-opted or penetrated by actors aligned with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s (IEA). This policy brief examines what remains of local agency, and how to navigate the dilemmas and trade-offs that follow.
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Cite as
https://doi.org/10.60638/7ksw-0j50
@techreport{SchmeidlMielkeSchetter2026,
author = "Susanne Schmeidl and Katja Mielke and Conrad Schetter",
title = "Rethinking Local Governance and External Engagement in Afghanistan",
latexTitle = "Rethinking Local Governance and External Engagement in Afghanistan",
publisher = "bicc",
institution = "bicc",
type = "BICC Policy brief",
year = "2026",
address = "Bonn",
}
