How to Understand Afghani Society

Afghanistan is an ancient country with a history spanning back at least 5,000 years. Though the Afghani people have undergone profound conflicts and changes during the past decade, there are characteristics that mark the country as unique. With a little effort you can gain a deeper understanding of Afghani society.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Grasp the fact that Afghani society is dominated by four principal ethnic groups: Hazaras, Pashtoons, Tajiks and Uzbeks. There are many other diverse ethnic groups in Afghanistan, but these are the primary ones.
2. Realize that the country is dominated by the Islamic religion. Though there are other religions in the country, 99 percent of Afghani society belongs to the Islamic faith. Afghani Muslims believe in the Qur'an, which is held to be the authoritative word of Allah, and focuses on personal responsibility, ultimate reward and ultimate punishment.
3. Digest that Afghanis live in a state of flux, poverty and uncertainty. Because Afghanistan has been at war for so long, the country has lost much in terms of infrastructure. The Afghani people are struggling to survive, despite a newly-adopted constitution in 2004 that declares the nation an Islamic republic.
4. Empathize with the plight of women in Afghani society. Though women were, at one time, forced to wear the all-covering burka to shield their faces and bodies from the world, they now can experience a measure of freedom. However, the women are still underemployed and poorly educated. With the help of the U.N., this is slowly changing.
5. Recognize that Afghanis are a proud people who work daily to overcome their economic and political struggles. The Afghanis are a group of decent, hard-working people, most of whom do not subscribe to the extremist vision of many Afghanis seen in the recent media. They simply want a return to peace in their daily lives.