Local Responses to Authoritarianism Under the Taliban Emirate

This chapter explores the local responses to the re-establishment of the Islamic Emirate in August 2021, focusing on Zurmat District in Paktia Province in Afghanistan. Using personal notes, published sources, and detailed interviews with local key informants, the chapter examines how community representatives engaged with leaders from the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in a tightly controlled political environment. The main argument is that, despite severe constraints, local actors managed to retain some political space through non-confrontational rhetoric and practical community mobilization. The chapter concludes that while Zurmat’s local politics operated under significant restrictions, these actors could still influence local governance to some extent. For meaningful national political dialogue, strategies must ensure non-Taliban participants are free from these constraints.