Different choices and the internalization of heterogeneous beliefs are one of the most important features of human society. Many cultural, social, and even historical phenomena of society are affected by the different choices of generations in different periods of time. The differences between the beliefs, thoughts, decisions and most importantly, the selection criteria of different generations in transitioning societies are much more noticeable and deeper. In fact, the institutionalization of the same beliefs and behaviors is the result of these choices, which determine the nature and evolution of each of the social, cultural and political phenomena of the society.
What makes Afghanistan more distinct from other transitional societies at this stage is that the traditional approaches, struggle to build walls against an already established atmosphere; That is, in Afghanistan, it is not a conflict between two generations, but the main struggle is between two different spaces and interpretations of religion and the world. This problem has created a lasting crisis and resistance force against the natural evolution of Afghanistan, which has sometimes led the society to extremes and takfir (ex-communication).
One of the characteristics of the evolving society is the introduction of civilized tools into the traditional society, which has been practiced in Afghanistan. When modern tools are used for transforming a traditional society to integrate it into the modern world, it usually sets out the society on a different path. First, society is faced with the choice of a “new beginning” using modern tools, which necessarily pits “new” against “old” and “present” against “past”. Representatives of this attitude must redefine everything.
Their view of the world is a special view. It defines man as the master and owner of the world, and at the same time, it introduces new ideas and concepts into political culture and philosophy, which will ultimately shape the new society. Wisdom, as the court of human consciousness, seeks to disenchant the world, which ultimately results in a new society and a new world. Second, in the process of such a transformation, another transformation is also created in society. Individuals and people who can’t adjust themselves to this development, experience and face frustration develop and feeling of despair that encourages their escape from the realities of society and the world; then, eventually, fall into the trap of extremism and violence.
In societies that do not provide new opportunities to their members in an equal and parallel manner, the statistics of crimes graph ascend very widely and criminal groups are formed. Even the extremist forces also emerge from the heart of such a transformation. Afghanistan has been stuck between these two developments for years.
It seems that the Taliban are also a product of such a development. The fighting and violent forces of the Taliban are mostly deprived and backward people who do not have and are intentionally being kept away from gaining access to welfare services as the most important component of modern society. Therefore, the fighting forces of the Taliban should not be studied outside of this. The fighting forces of the Taliban are actually disillusioned, depressed and backward forces who want to get their welfare demands through unconventional ways. The disillusionment of the Taliban has caused them to act violently and excessively against all the people, except for the Taliban. The antidote to such a force is, above all, cultural and social work to teach them that the best way to achieve their legitimate desires is to harmonize with the world and modern sciences. Therefore, in strengthening the ranks of the Taliban, the leaders of the previous government are the guiltiest.
As a result, the Taliban with the least knowledge about the modern world and have taken over the government and political system through years of fighting with the system developed in alignment with the modern world does not have the ability to further move it towards modernity and development, but they want to make it a stagnant and backward society that has no connection with the modern and developed society. Therefore, the Taliban’s fear of any kind of development is that it will disintegrate their ranks the most. Knowledge is a poison for the Taliban that will lead to their destruction. This is why they oppose the science and knowledge that endangers the so-called jihad achievements that are based on vague and false religious arguments made up by themselves.
[box type=”shadow” align=”alignleft” class=”” width=””]Author: Sayed Mohammad Hashemi [/box]