Democracy and the Rule of Law in Afghanistan: A Cautionary Tale

Hakimi asserts that democracy and the rule of law share a robust and symbiotic nexus. (e rule of law is central to democracy as a system of governance and to democratization as a process. Adherence to the rule of law reflects respect for the will of the people as the legitimate source of authority. As such, upholding the rule of law protects against arbitrariness and abuse of power. Similarly, the erosion of the rule of law poses one of the most insidious threats to both settled and nascent democracies. Disregard for the rule of law corrodes the legitimacy of power holders whose authority emanates from the law, and ultimately that of the undergirding system of governance. Democratization is often a nonlinear and fragile process. This is especially the case in conflict-affected and divided societies with strong autocratic traditions such as Afghanistan. In such contexts, adherence to the rule of law is vital for the stability and even survival of nascent democracies.