Police Corruption and Political Legitimacy of Ashraf Ghani's Government in Afghanistan

Abstract

This study examines the consequences, and extent of corruption in the Afghan police under the rule of Mr. Ashraf Ghani. Since the government in Afghanistan weakened by widespread corruption after 2014, and the people's trust in the government has always decreased. Therefore, internal legitimacy has also decreased, opening the space for the growth of anti-government groups, and ultimately leading to the collapse of the system. This study is based on semi-structured interviews conducted with 20 people, including academics, businesspersons, civil society activists, and government officials, through a qualitative study. According to the interviewees, the lack of uniform implementation of laws, weak leadership, and lack of specialized training, low salaries, and political interference were the main factors for the growth of corruption in the police department at that time. Preventing political interference, specialized training, permanent supervision, and uniform implementation of laws can rebuild trust in society.