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Current Issues Briefing
Is Afghanistan Ready for Elections?
Delegates stand next to a political poster for Hamid Karzai during the June 2002 Loya Jirga in Afghanistan.
USAID Photo
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Date:
Wednesday, February 18, 2004
Time:
10:00 AM–Noon
Location:
U.S. Institute of Peace
1200 17th St., NW
Washington, D.C.
Directions
Despite the success of the recent loya jirga in adopting a new constitution, the difficulties involved in creating the conditions for free and fair elections by June 2004 loom large. Concerns have been raised that premature elections risk further destabilizing Afghanistan. Numerous practical issues remain to be resolved, including whether the security situation will permit successful registration and voting processes, whether foreign donors will provide adequate and timely funding, and whether sufficient voter education will be provided to an electorate that has never before participated in a democratic election.
On February 18, the U.S. Institute of Peace hosted a Current Issues Briefing to explore the complicated issues surrounding the question: "Is Afghanistan Ready for Elections?" The latest in an ongoing series of Institute events examining the issues related to the reconstruction of Afghanistan, the panel explored the political as well as technical feasibility of carrying out countrywide elections as currently planned for June. Moderated by Institute rule of law expert Laurel Miller, the panel featured insights from U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad (via teleconference), internationally acclaimed journalist Ahmed Rashid, and elections expert and Institute senior fellow Horacio Boneo. The panel presentations were followed by questions from the floor.
Speakers
- Horacio Boneo
Elections Expert; and Senior Fellow, U.S. Institute of Peace
- Zalmay Khalilzad (Via teleconference)
U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan
- Ahmed Rashid
Journalist, Far Eastern Economic Review and Daily Times (London)
Moderator
- Laurel Miller
Rule of Law Program, United States Institute of Peace
Related Institute Resources
Publications
Democratic Constitution Making
(Special Report, July 2003)
The Road Ahead: Lessons in Nation Building from Japan, Germany, and Afghanistan for Postwar Iraq
(Special Report, May 2003)
Unfinished Business in Afghanistan: Warlordism, Reconstruction, and Ethnic Harmony
(Special Report, April 2003)
Assorted Online Resources
A New Afghanistan: Challenges of Governance and the Rule of Law
(Archived Audio and Video,
January 2004)
Religious Extremism and Governance in South Asia: Internal and External Pressures
(Archived Audio and Video,
May 2003)
Free and Independent Media: A Forgotten Aspect of Afghan Recovery?
(Institute Newsbyte,
October 2002)
Afghanistan: Prospects for Free & Independent Media
(Archived Audio and Video,
September 2002)
Afghanistan Web Links
(Library Web Links)
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