Impacts of Centralization on the Performance of Local Governance in Afghanistan; A Survey in Nangarhar Province

Abstract

During the 18th century, Ahmad Shah Durrani has governed Afghanistan based on the devolution of some powers to the local religious people for the implementation of his kingship orders in the local area. From 1919 till the adoption of the 2004 constitution and the Hamid Karzai’s administration the authority of decision making is exercised by the central government in accordance to the provision of law, the provisions of law is not clearly enumerating the delegation and devolution of power but in practice there are lots of the affairs which taking place from the bottom at administration to the top level in the central government.

This study is conducted to identify the Impacts of Centralization on Local Governance in Afghanistan, study of the structure of government and its impacts keep me more interested to find out about centralization and local administration and its challenges in the Afghanistan’s current political, economic, social and security situations. The research will also explore the legal framework of authority and its delegation in the constitutional context.

This research survey determines the nature, magnitude, and sensitivity of centralization and decentralization, addressing the Social, Political, Economic and Cultural issues in Afghanistan which are identified in the assessment of research findings, and recommend measures for the development of Delegation, Devolution and Deconcentration of authority to local units.

Keywords: Afghanistan, Centralization, Decentralization, Performance of Local Governance, Local Administration.