Publication

Building on data collected from interviews with voters in Afghanistan, this report suggests that perceived political legitimacy remains elusive in the country. The authors maintain that issues including the contested results of the 2014 election, and subsequent creation of the National Unity Government (NUG), continue to fuel high levels of dissatisfaction among constituents. They also suggest that government legitimacy is likely to come only through a combination of transformative, top-down electoral reform led by the NUG, public protest, and international diplomatic pressure.