ELDERS AND SHURAS: UPHOLDING TRADITION OR DISENFRANCHISING THE POPULATION?

Abstract

The currently expanding paid ASOP (Afghan Social Outreach Programme)shuras are the only connection people have to an otherwiseappointed district and provincial government as there are few if anyelected District Councils. However, though they come from an initialpool of candidates put forth by the community, they are ultimately stillselected by the government rather than elected and hard to change oncethey gain a seat. There are also numerous accusations of elders beingcorrupt, working for or with insurgents, and playing favourites withdevelopment money. In some Districts, there are more villages thanshura members, so several villages may have to rely on one man to representthem all—even if he is not prone to playing favourites, he cannotbe present in all places at once to intimately understand their needs.