The Consistency of Patronage
The Consistency of Patronage
Networks and Powerbrokers of the ‘Arzbegi Clan’ in Kunduz
This chapter discusses how the Afghan state, despite the centralisation efforts of the government, largely rested on bonds of patronage and clientele networks until at least the 1950s. This means that Afghan statehood was shaped by social practices that have historically developed and which have always played a crucial role in local politics. The chapter presents a case study from Kunduz province involving the Arzbegi clan. It shows how a family has been able to control political power in one locality for nearly one century, positioning itself as an intermediary between the capital in Kabul and the local level.
Keywords: Afghan state, patronage, local politics, political power
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