Individuals alone do not typically bring about significant changes, except in rare and specific circumstances. Substantial change occurs when a segment of society unites towards a shared objective and rallies the masses to achieve it. Following numerous instances of collapse, Afghanistan is currently grappling with yet another form of collapse, namely the erosion of collective ideals.
Several decades ago, prior to the commencement of wars, Afghanistan witnessed the emergence of two highly idealistic movements that sought to gain popular support. One of these movements was the left-wing movement, which focused its propaganda on the eradication of class conflicts and the establishment of social justice. Although this ideal was not fully comprehensive and did not encompass a rich concept of justice, which includes ethnic, gender, and religious equality, it still managed to resonate with a portion of the population, particularly the younger generation who desired significant social and political transformations.
On the contrary, there were political Islamist groups that advocated for the creation of a society based on monotheism, a pure Islamic system, the revitalization of the Ummah, and the restoration of the former glory of Muslims, among other slogans. While it was challenging to distinguish between fantasy and reality in the rhetoric of this movement, it had the ability to motivate significant portions of the population and incite them to engage in activism.
In contrast to the aforementioned two movements, the nationalist groups were unable to establish a shared national vision that would generate widespread enthusiasm. As a result, they quickly found themselves isolated in the face of these two movements. It is worth noting that the global public sentiment at the time favored these two movements, as they had the backing of two powerful global factions. In contrast, liberal nationalism lacked strong support from any quarter.
The onset of the wars and the subsequent devastation it caused undermined the credibility of both leftist and Islamist ideologies, further exacerbating the collapse. During the two decades of the Republic, which presented a unique opportunity for national reconstruction, the ideals of the past were replaced by ethnic and local conflicts, and the political landscape was dominated by opportunistic individuals lacking any noble national or patriotic ideals. Following the collapse of the Republic, the level of vulgarity in public discourse has reached such a disgraceful point that it is shameful to even mention it. Many self-proclaimed experts and theorists have resorted to slander and petty criticism in public spaces, abandoning any broader perspective.
The erosion of shared values and the emergence of factionalism and localism has intensified dissatisfaction within the country and diminished the country’s political reputation abroad. External observers perceive these politicians as foolish individuals who are self-destructive and lead others towards destruction. Consequently, they are not regarded seriously in the realm of politics and are not considered in broader calculations. This fragmentation appears likely to persist until a new generation and a different group with loftier ideals come forward and replace trust and belief with mistrust.
Read this article in Farsi here.