The Political, Economic, and Social Conditions of People in Afghanistan Under the New Government: An Analysis of Governance, Human Rights, and Public Welfare in 2026

Author: Mehran Ibrahimkhail
Year: 2026
Field: Political Science

Abstract

The political transition in Afghanistan following the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021 has significantly transformed the country’s political institutions, economic environment, social structures, and relationship with the international community. By 2026, Afghanistan has experienced a period of reduced armed conflict in many areas, while continuing to face serious challenges concerning political participation, economic development, human rights, education, employment, and access to public services. These developments have influenced the daily lives of millions of Afghan citizens, particularly women, young people, rural communities, vulnerable households, and individuals returning from neighbouring countries. This article examines the current conditions of Afghan society under the de facto government through the perspective of political science. It analyses the nature of governance, the relationship between state authority and public participation, economic hardship, restrictions on women and girls, educational opportunities, humanitarian needs, and international relations. The article argues that lasting political stability requires more than the reduction of armed conflict. It also depends on effective institutions, accountable administration, inclusive decision-making, economic opportunity, respect for fundamental rights, and the provision of essential public services. The study concludes that addressing these challenges is important for Afghanistan’s long-term stability, institutional development, and social recovery.

Keywords: Afghanistan, political science, Taliban government, governance, human rights, economic development, education, political participation, social welfare.

1. Introduction

Political change has a profound influence on the lives of citizens because governments determine public policies, establish administrative institutions, distribute resources, maintain security, and regulate relationships between individuals and society. In Afghanistan, the return of the Taliban to power in August 2021 marked a major turning point in the country's political development. The previous Islamic Republic collapsed, the Taliban established a new system of administration, and the relationship between Afghanistan and many foreign governments changed considerably.

By 2026, the country’s political and social environment reflects a combination of developments. The reduction of widespread armed conflict has created opportunities for ordinary people to travel, conduct business, and pursue everyday activities in many areas. However, the country continues to experience extensive poverty, unemployment, humanitarian needs, restrictions on women and girls, and limitations on political participation. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has emphasized that reduced conflict is a significant development but that restrictions on women and girls, concerns about terrorism, and other governance challenges continue to affect Afghanistan’s prospects for sustainable recovery. <Cite refs={["turn867705search2","turn867705search4"]}/>

From a political science perspective, these conditions raise important questions about the relationship between government authority and public welfare. A political system must be examined not only through its ability to exercise territorial control but also through its institutions, policies, accountability, public services, and treatment of citizens.

The purpose of this article is to examine the current situation of Afghan people under the Taliban’s de facto government in 2026. It focuses on political governance, economic conditions, education, gender equality, public security, humanitarian challenges, and international relations. It also considers the conditions that may contribute to a more stable, inclusive, and sustainable future for Afghanistan.

2. Political Background and the Transformation of Government

Afghanistan’s modern political history has been shaped by repeated changes in government, foreign intervention, civil conflict, and competing political ideologies. These developments have weakened institutions, disrupted economic activity, and affected public confidence in political leadership.

The Taliban’s return to power in 2021 brought an end to the Islamic Republic and established a different political and administrative structure. The new authorities reorganized government institutions, introduced policies based on their interpretation of Islamic law, and changed several arrangements affecting public administration, education, employment, and social life.

By 2026, the Taliban authorities exercise effective control over Afghanistan’s national administration. However, effective territorial control and international recognition are separate matters. Afghanistan’s authorities continue to face substantial challenges in their international relations, including concerns about governance, human rights, and the participation of different groups in public life.

A central issue is the degree to which citizens can participate in decisions that affect their communities. Political science examines participation through elections, representative institutions, public consultation, civil society, freedom of expression, and mechanisms that enable citizens to communicate their concerns to decision-makers.

When political decision-making is concentrated within a narrow governing structure, public accountability and the representation of different social groups become particularly important questions. Afghanistan’s long-term political development will depend partly on whether its institutions can respond effectively to citizens’ needs and accommodate the country’s social, ethnic, regional, and economic diversity.

3. Governance, Political Participation, and Public Accountability

Governance refers to the processes through which public authority is exercised, decisions are implemented, resources are managed, and public institutions respond to society. Effective governance generally requires administrative capacity, transparent procedures, consistent implementation of laws, and mechanisms for addressing public complaints.

In Afghanistan, the current governing arrangement raises questions about the relationship between centralized authority and public participation. The authorities have emphasized administrative control, security, and the implementation of their interpretation of Islamic principles. At the same time, international assessments have identified continuing concerns regarding political inclusiveness, restrictions on fundamental freedoms, and the limited opportunities available to some groups to participate in public affairs. <Cite refs={["turn867705search2","turn867705search4"]}/>

These issues matter because public institutions affect everyday life. Citizens require accessible administrative services, reliable documentation, fair dispute resolution, and opportunities to express concerns about local conditions. Businesses require predictable regulations, while communities need ways to communicate their priorities concerning schools, healthcare, roads, water, and employment.

Public accountability is also important for preventing administrative errors and the unequal distribution of resources. When citizens have limited access to independent information or formal channels for challenging decisions, it may become more difficult to identify and correct problems.

A sustainable governance framework should therefore consider administrative effectiveness alongside public participation, legal protections, equal access to services, and mechanisms through which officials can be held responsible for their decisions.

4. Economic Conditions and the Daily Lives of Citizens

Economic hardship is one of the most significant challenges affecting Afghan households in 2026. Poverty influences food consumption, housing, education, healthcare, employment, and the ability of families to prepare for emergencies. Economic insecurity can also affect social relationships and public confidence in institutions.

According to the United Nations Development Programme’s Afghanistan Socioeconomic Review, published in May 2026, Afghanistan’s economy grew by approximately 1.9% in the 2024/25 fiscal year. This growth was insufficient to keep pace with rapid population growth. The report also estimated that 74% of Afghans were unable to meet their basic subsistence needs in 2025. <Cite refs={["turn867705search0","turn867705search1"]}/>

These figures illustrate the difference between economic growth and improvements in household welfare. A country may record an increase in total economic output while individual families continue to experience declining purchasing power, insufficient employment, and difficulty paying for essential goods.

Several factors contribute to Afghanistan’s economic challenges. These include limited private investment, insufficient employment opportunities, reduced international assistance, a fragile financial sector, climate-related pressures, and the difficulty of absorbing large numbers of returning migrants. Many workers depend on informal activities, temporary employment, small-scale trade, or agricultural production.

The return of millions of Afghans from neighbouring countries has further increased demand for housing, employment, education, healthcare, and basic infrastructure. UNDP reported that nearly five million Afghans returned from Iran and Pakistan between 2023 and 2025, including approximately 2.7 million in 2025 alone. <Cite refs={["turn867705search1","turn867705search6"]}/>

Improving these conditions requires policies that support small businesses, agriculture, vocational training, local infrastructure, access to finance, and productive employment. Economic recovery also depends on a predictable regulatory environment and the ability of all qualified members of society to contribute to the labour force.

5. Education and the Future of Afghan Youth

Education is essential for individual development, economic productivity, political awareness, and social progress. It enables citizens to acquire professional skills, understand public institutions, evaluate information, and participate more effectively in community life.

Afghanistan’s education sector faces substantial difficulties in 2026. Schools operate under financial and infrastructural constraints, educational quality remains uneven, and access to learning opportunities is affected by poverty, geographical barriers, and restrictions on girls’ education.

One of the most consequential policies is the continued exclusion of girls from secondary and higher education. According to UNICEF’s 2026 analysis, approximately 3.8 million girls aged 7–18 were out of school in 2024, including more than 2.6 million adolescent girls. UNICEF also estimated that restrictions on girls’ education and women’s participation in the labour force cost Afghanistan at least 5.3 billion Afghanis, equivalent to approximately US$84 million, annually under the assumptions of its analysis. <Cite refs={["turn867705search5","turn867705search10"]}/>

The consequences extend beyond individual students. Restrictions on education reduce opportunities for professional development, limit the future supply of qualified workers, and can contribute to shortages in fields such as healthcare, teaching, and social services.

Young men also face challenges, including limited employment, financial pressure, and uncertainty about their professional futures. Educational qualifications may not translate into suitable employment when the economy cannot generate enough skilled jobs.

Strengthening education requires investment in teacher training, school facilities, textbooks, vocational programmes, digital learning, and professional development. Expanding educational opportunities for girls and boys would help develop the human capital needed for economic recovery and institutional development.

6. Women’s Rights and Participation in Society

The position of women and girls is a central issue in understanding Afghanistan’s political and social conditions under the current authorities. Policies restricting women’s education, employment, movement, and participation in public life have affected families, communities, institutions, and the national economy.

Women contribute to household income, education, healthcare, agriculture, entrepreneurship, and community support. When women face barriers to education and employment, the effects extend to children, dependent family members, and the broader labour market.

UNDP’s 2026 review identified restrictions on women and girls as a major obstacle to Afghanistan’s socioeconomic recovery. It also documented difficulties affecting women’s access to healthcare, legal documentation, and public life. <Cite refs={["turn867705search1","turn867705search5"]}/>

The restrictions have consequences for both individual rights and institutional capacity. For example, limiting women’s access to professional education can reduce the future availability of female teachers and medical workers. In circumstances where cultural expectations or administrative rules make contact with male professionals difficult, shortages of qualified female personnel can create additional barriers to essential services.

Women-led households may face particular difficulties when they have limited access to paid work or public assistance. Rural women can experience additional challenges associated with distance, transport, poverty, and shortages of local services.

From a political science perspective, the participation of women is relevant to political representation, equality before the law, human development, and the legitimacy of public institutions. Improving women’s access to education, healthcare, employment, and public services would support both individual welfare and the country’s long-term development.

7. Public Security and Social Stability

Security remains an important dimension of Afghanistan’s current situation. Years of armed conflict caused extensive loss of life, displacement, damage to infrastructure, and psychological suffering. The reduction of widespread fighting in many areas since 2021 has changed the security environment and created opportunities for some economic and social activities.

UNAMA’s assessment of the five years following the Taliban’s return to power recognized that reduced conflict had brought tangible benefits to many Afghans. However, the mission also highlighted continuing terrorism concerns and other risks to lasting stability. <Cite refs={["turn867705search2","turn867705search4"]}/>

Security should therefore be understood in a broad sense. It includes protection from armed violence, but it also involves personal safety, access to justice, freedom from arbitrary treatment, secure livelihoods, and the ability to obtain essential services.

A country can experience fewer armed confrontations while its population continues to face severe economic insecurity or restrictions on civil and political freedoms. Similarly, economic hardship and social exclusion can weaken community resilience and create difficulties for long-term peacebuilding.

Sustainable stability requires institutions capable of protecting civilians, addressing local disputes, preventing violence, and responding to public concerns through consistent and accessible procedures. Community engagement, professional public administration, and equitable access to economic opportunities can help strengthen social trust.

8. Humanitarian Challenges and Access to Public Services

Afghanistan’s humanitarian situation remains serious in 2026. Food insecurity, insufficient income, water shortages, inadequate housing, limited healthcare, and natural disasters continue to affect vulnerable households.

A UK government country-information report published in April 2026 estimated that approximately 21.9 million people in Afghanistan, or 45% of the population, would require humanitarian assistance during 2026. The report also identified substantial needs involving food, health services, safe water, shelter, and protection. <Cite refs={["turn867705search9","turn867705search4"]}/>

These challenges are interconnected. A household affected by unemployment may be unable to afford nutritious food or medical treatment. A drought-affected farming family may lose its income and become dependent on relatives or humanitarian assistance. A returning family without secure housing or documentation may experience difficulty obtaining employment and accessing public services.

Healthcare access is another major concern. Funding reductions contributed to the closure or suspension of hundreds of health facilities in 2025, increasing pressure on a system already affected by shortages of personnel and resources. <Cite refs={["turn867705search1","turn867705search9"]}/>

Humanitarian assistance can help households meet urgent needs, but emergency aid alone cannot resolve structural poverty. Long-term improvement requires stronger local services, investment in water infrastructure, support for agricultural livelihoods, sustainable healthcare financing, and employment opportunities.

Coordination among local institutions, humanitarian organizations, development agencies, and communities is essential to ensure that assistance reaches people according to their needs and is delivered fairly and efficiently.

9. International Relations and Afghanistan’s Position in the World

Afghanistan’s domestic political conditions are closely connected to its international relationships. Foreign relations influence trade, investment, development assistance, access to financial systems, diplomatic cooperation, and the movement of people across borders.

Since 2021, relations between the Taliban authorities and many foreign governments have remained complicated. International engagement has continued in areas such as humanitarian assistance, regional cooperation, security, and economic development, while disagreements persist over governance, human rights, and restrictions on women and girls.

International recognition is distinct from the practical need to maintain communication with the authorities. Governments and international organizations may engage with Afghan institutions to address humanitarian concerns or regional security even when questions about formal recognition remain unresolved.

The decline in external assistance has placed additional pressure on public services and household welfare. At the same time, Afghanistan’s geographic position creates opportunities for regional trade, transport links, energy cooperation, and commercial exchange.

A more sustainable international relationship would benefit from practical cooperation on humanitarian needs, predictable trade arrangements, regional security, education, and economic development. Progress in these areas also depends on addressing concerns that have limited broader diplomatic and economic engagement.

Afghanistan’s future international position will be influenced by the interaction between domestic policies, regional developments, international expectations, and the ability of its institutions to provide stability and public services.

10. Major Challenges and Possible Policy Responses

The current situation requires coordinated responses across several areas of public policy.

First, governance institutions need effective administrative procedures, transparent resource management, and accessible channels for citizens to communicate their concerns. Greater public consultation could help identify local needs and improve the implementation of public programmes.

Second, economic policy should focus on productive employment, small-business development, agricultural resilience, vocational training, and access to finance. Employment initiatives should include opportunities for women, young people, people with disabilities, and returning migrants.

Third, education should be treated as a long-term national investment. Expanding access to quality education for girls and boys, strengthening teacher training, and improving vocational and technical programmes would support professional development and economic productivity.

Fourth, public services require sustained attention. Investment in healthcare, clean water, sanitation, housing, and social protection can reduce household vulnerability and improve human development.

Fifth, policies affecting women’s rights and public participation require serious consideration. Removing barriers to girls’ education and women’s employment would expand access to essential services, strengthen family incomes, and increase the pool of qualified professionals.

Finally, international cooperation should prioritize the needs of Afghan people while supporting sustainable development. Humanitarian relief remains necessary, but it should complement longer-term efforts to strengthen livelihoods, institutions, and community resilience.

These proposals involve political, administrative, financial, and social considerations. Their implementation would require coordination, reliable monitoring, and attention to differences among Afghanistan’s provinces and communities.

11. Conclusion

The situation of people in Afghanistan under the Taliban’s de facto government in 2026 reflects a complex relationship between political authority, security, economic conditions, human rights, and social development. Reduced armed conflict in many areas has created opportunities for greater everyday stability, but it has not eliminated the structural problems affecting millions of citizens.

Poverty, limited employment, humanitarian needs, restrictions on girls’ education, barriers to women’s participation, and weaknesses in public-service delivery remain significant challenges. These issues are connected: educational restrictions affect professional capacity, unemployment increases household vulnerability, and limitations on public participation raise questions about accountability and the responsiveness of institutions.

Political stability should therefore be examined alongside the quality of governance and the everyday conditions in which citizens live. Durable peace requires more than the absence of widespread armed conflict. It also depends on opportunities for education, access to healthcare, secure livelihoods, effective public institutions, and the ability of different groups to participate in social and economic life.

Afghanistan’s future will be shaped by the policies of its governing authorities, the resilience of its population, developments in the regional environment, and the extent of international cooperation. A sustainable path forward would involve reducing poverty, expanding educational opportunities, improving public services, supporting productive employment, addressing human-rights concerns, and developing institutions that respond to the needs of the population.

Ultimately, the well-being of Afghan citizens provides an essential measure for examining the country’s political development. Policies that improve human welfare, strengthen institutional capacity, and expand opportunities for all members of society can contribute to a more stable and sustainable future.

References

1. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). (2026). Afghanistan Socioeconomic Review. Published May 2026. Available at: https://www.undp.org/afghanistan/publications/afghanistan-socioeconomic-review

2. United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). (2026, August 13). Five Years On, Afghanistan’s Future Depends on Inclusive Progress and Sustained International Engagement. Available at: https://unama.unmissions.org/en/press-releases/five-years-on-afghanistans-future-depends-on-inclusive-sustained

3. United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA). (2026). Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan’s Remarks to the Security Council. Available at: https://dppa.un.org/en/speeches-and-statements/deputy-special-representative-for-afghanistans-remarks-to-the-security

4. UNICEF Office of Research – Innocenti. (2026). The Costs of Inaction: Girls’ Education and Women’s Labour Force Participation in Afghanistan. Published April 2026. Available at: https://www.unicef.org/innocenti/reports/cost-of-inaction-afghanistan-2026

5. World Bank. (2026). Macro Poverty Outlook for Afghanistan: April 2026 Datasheet. Available at: https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documents-reports/documentdetail/099111508192634644

6. European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA). (2026, January 22). Country of Origin Information Report: Afghanistan – Country Focus. Available at: https://dip-aws.euaa.europa.eu/publications/coi-report-afghanistan-country-focus-2

7. UK Home Office. (2026, April). Country Policy and Information Note: Humanitarian Situation, Afghanistan. Available at:

Author: Mehran Ibrahimkhail
Year: 2026