SAC Flashcards
Country study Afghanistan
Resources
> shortage of freshwater (particularly problematic for Afghanistan given the rural social structure)
Only 25% of the country has been urbanized
Statistics
> according to the human development index, Afghanistan is ranked 193/204 nations
The average life expectancy in Afghanistan is estimated to be around 65 years
As of 2025 the literacy rate of the population age 15 and older is 37%
Religious Beliefs
The predominant religion in Afghanistan is Islam which 99% of the population follow
Ethics
> Pashtun - 52% (dominant)
Tajiki - 25% (educated elite)
Economy
> Largely comprised of small villages, people produce enough food to feed themselves / family
Wealth is measured in terms of property (livestock)
Hospitality and communal giving is highly valued and increases the social status of the gift giver
leaders gain power through their ability to give to the group
City Life
Kinship is not as significant in the city, where there is a more modern economy present
Sources of authority
Political leaders have “royal authority”, leaders that are trained in the religious law islamic schools
Family
The family remains the single most important institutions in Afghanistan society
Family types:
> Endogamous - is the practice of marrying within a specific ethnic group, class, or social group
Patrilineal - is the Inheritance through the male line
Patrilocal - is when the girl moves to her husband’s place of residence upon marriage
Patriarchal - Authority comes from the male elders
Family roles
In Afghan society, the extended family provides crucial economic and social support.
> Marriages are often arranged based on factors like tribe, status, network, and wealth.
> A woman is expected to remain within her family and not be accessible to outsiders.
> Men have the authority to control women’s behavior to maintain male prestige and protect family honor.
Religion is Everywhere
> In Afghanistan, Islam is deeply ingrained in daily life, with 99% of the population identifying as Muslim.
Religion and politics are closely intertwined, almost forming a single entity.
Foreigners, especially non-Muslims, are often seen as inferior, and women face significant challenges in having their rights recognized, with their inferior status sometimes justified by interpretations of Islamic teachings.
Afghanistan - Power & Authority
Context
> Afghan society is divided into tribes, sub tribes, clans, and families.
Loyalties in a tribal society are not confined to the state, but to the tribal chief, elders, clans, families and common ethnicity.
Tribal and ethnic identities take precedence over both the individual and greater “Afghani” identity.
Social Continuity and change
Micro Level
CONTINUITY - Resistance to change in rural areas, family is still integral, marriages mostly arranged with ethnic and tribal lines, males are still head of family.
CHANGE - Forced marriages are prohibited, with a minimum age set at 16 for girls and 18 for men. Some women undergo re-education to align with “authentic Islam.” They are denied employment and education, forced to wear the burqa, and prohibited from leaving home without a male “guardian.”
Meso Level
CONTINUITY - Women are banned from seeing male doctors, health standards are lower for women.
