Barriers to the Realization of Social Justice and Equality Policies in Afghanistan (2004–2021)

Abstract

During the two decades following the adoption of the 2004 Constitution, the Afghan government formulated and implemented a range of justice-oriented documents, programs, and policies aimed at social development, poverty reduction, combating discrimination, and the equitable distribution of resources. Nevertheless, the practical realization of social justice and equality encountered extensive structural, institutional, and cultural barriers. Drawing upon an integrated theoretical framework consisting of John Rawls’s theory of justice, Nancy Fraser’s three-dimensional theory of justice, and the historical institutionalist approach, this article examines the obstacles to the implementation of social justice policies in Afghanistan between 2004 and 2021. The study employs a qualitative research design based on thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews conducted with university professors, government officials, and civil society activists. The interview data were coded and analyzed using MAXQDA software. The findings indicate that limited state institutional capacity, concentration of power and administrative corruption, inefficiencies in resource allocation systems, selective enforcement of laws, weak oversight institutions, and the prominent influence of ethnic and identity-based networks constituted the most significant barriers to the realization of social justice. These factors operated in an interconnected and mutually reinforcing manner, hindering the institutionalization of justice within Afghanistan’s governance structure. The article concludes that the realization of social justice requires profound institutional reforms, strengthening the rule of law, redesigning mechanisms for resource distribution, and establishing an inclusive framework for managing identity diversity.