Talk by Sharif Hozoori (Visiting Lecturer, Government)

Legitimacy is essential for all political regimes, whether democratic or authoritarian. This has been true for various authoritarian regimes throughout Afghanistan’s modern history and for the current Taliban regime as well. In this study, I focus on Afghanistan and the Taliban as a case study to examine how the group constructs its legitimacy.

The paper begins by outlining the theoretical framework, followed by a historical review of political legitimacy in Afghanistan. It then examines whether the Taliban regime is authoritarian, analyzes its strategy for constructing legitimacy, and explores the challenges facing its legitimation process. Finally, the paper concludes with key findings.

Sharif Hozoori holds a Ph.D. in International Relations from the Centre for International Politics, Organization and Disarmament (CIPOD), School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Before the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, he served as a professor of International Relations, teaching undergraduate and graduate students in Afghanistan. He is currently a Visiting Lecturer in the Department of Government at Cornell University. His research focuses on the politics of Central Asia, Afghanistan’s domestic politics and foreign policy, and identity politics.