Afghanistan is engulfed by a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. In the past year, hunger as well as environmental and natural disasters have wreaked havoc due to Taliban rule. The implementation of the regime’s austerity policies has stifled economic activity and caused irreparable damage to the livelihoods and material well-being of the people, especially the most vulnerable and marginalized groups. For example, the Taliban’s policy of gender apartheid has made it almost impossible for women to participate in the economy. In the past year, many small businesses in handicrafts, education, art, music, press, and publications have collapsed, causing both economic hardship as well as a large exodus of people out of the country.
The Taliban lacks widespread popular support and cannot justify its authority in the eyes of the people. Their authority suffers from a deep crisis of legitimacy as they seized power through violence and brute force. The Taliban rules through threats, enforced disappearance, displacement, torture, and murder. In the meantime, women — just because of their gender — have suffered countless oppressions and are systematically deprived of their fundamental and basic rights.
Under the Taliban’s gender apartheid, participation in society has been systematically criminalized for more than half of the population. Yet the Taliban consider themselves legitimate rulers of the country; a legitimacy they have not earned through the people’s consent but instead claiming it has been divinely granted to them.
They also claim legitimacy by the fact that they have effectively established territorial control and brought a semblance of peace and security to the whole country. The claim of political authority based on territorial control seems very flimsy and inadequate, especially in the face of widespread resentment towards their rule. The Taliban forces behave like occupying forces in large swathes of the country. In utter disregard to all international laws and conventions, the Taliban are maintaining their domination through brutality, violence, torture, flogging, house searches, and repression.
However, history teaches that authority through intimidation and repression cannot last long. There is a negative correlation between legitimacy and violence. The political authorities that can justify their existence by earning the consent of the people do not have to rely on coercion. On the other hand, illegitimate regimes that cannot justify their existence in the eyes of the people have to resort to violence and coercive measures. Therefore, the Taliban’s ongoing brutality can be explained by their lack of legitimacy in the eyes of the people. Their repression will only intensify resentment and anger among people and will deepen the Taliban’s crisis of legitimacy, which cannot be resolved by intensifying repression and terror. Eventually a people’s fear turns into determination and the will to put an end to a tyranny.
As of now, the Taliban has not provided any meaningful programs for basic needs, such as health and education. Their reliance on religion and their claim to be implementing the will of Allah is a failed attempt to cover up their crisis of legitimacy. While the people are grinded down under poverty, the Taliban consider themselves obliged to only inspect the people’s piety. They have even created the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice to police women’s bodies and those of other marginalized social groups.
At the same time, the Taliban project themselves as soldiers of a holy war, resisting colonial interventions. Yet, it should not be forgotten that the Taliban are themselves the product of geopolitical interests of the United States and its regional allies during the Cold War. The collective memory of the people of Afghanistan views the Taliban and their precursors in the mujahideen parties as chess pawns of other countries. The people of Afghanistan clearly remember the historical origins of the Taliban: brain washed, delusional militarist and extremist mullahs used as pawns at the hands of powers that be. An example of this claim is the subservient relationship of the Taliban to the security apparatus of our southern neighbour.
The Taliban’s claim to legitimacy based on delivering the right to self-determination for the country can fool no one. The people have suffered long enough in the harsh reality to know the true essence of the Taliban and the truth about their false claim of independence.
We believe that now is the time to think and plan for a political alternative for the day after liberty from the Taliban. Even in the depth of our current despair, it is our responsibility that we must not cease our collective demands. It is our responsibility to defend truth and counter the Taliban’s false narrative. We must create opportunities and venues for the plurality of the voices of our diverse people. It’s time to stand on the roof of liberty and loudly announce our demands.
Now is the time to act. To establish peace, equality, and freedom, we must courageously take the initiative and plan the future. Because the Taliban emirate, like other illegitimate tyrannies, is going to collapse. We must be ready to build a better future without them.
