Integration and Crisis Policies in Afghanistan

Throughout the modern history of Afghanistan, which dates back to the establishment of the Durrani Empire in 1747, most Afghan leaders have tried to form a strong central government. These efforts could be divided into three different models: shallow integration policy, deep integration policy and deep civil integration policy. Each of them has been crystallized by a particular leader or leaders. Ahmad Shah is the symbol of shallow integration policy. Dust Mohammad Khan and the Iron Amir are the symbol of deep integration policy, while Amanullah Khan is the man who introduced deep civil integration policy. All of them adopted their own particular approaches to implement the envisioned policy. Yet, all efforts to create a strong central government controlling social relations and establishing order, to different extents, have failed. The author argues that the Afghan crisis, along with its endemic nature, should be addressed in the historical context of these policies.