The National Maliks Association

General Information

Maliks are the local community leaders in villages throughout the country. WADAN believes that democracy and development will thrive in Afghanistan only with active participation from the grassroots. Maliks are authentic grassroots leaders and their positions as indigenous authority figures provides opportunity to introduce the concepts of democracy, good governance, the rule of law, peace and sustainable development from the grassroots.

In order to encourage these concepts to take root and grow, WADAN's mobile teams of civic education trainers have taken our workshops to communities all across Afghanistan, giving special attention to remote rural areas that had previously been left out of any civic education efforts.

Interestingly, while the word 'democracy' often carries a negative connotation in rural areas, participants in the trainings have expressed their commitment to and cooperation with initiative that promote national unity, peace, human rights and democracy.

The National Maliks Association, formed in January, 2005 is a network of Maliks trained by WADAN and committed to building a lasting peace, national unity and development through good governance. Over 200 members meet regularly at the district and regional levels and bi-annually meeting.

WADAN's effort in training Maliks has had a positive impact from the beginning. During the 2004 presidential and 2005 parliamentary elections, Maliks learned voting procedures, became election observers, arranged carpools to polling stations for women and handicapped voters and helped to provide the security necessary to conduct a peaceful election.

Citizens who received education knew exactly how to vote. The ratio of invalid voting was higher in areas that had not received civic education. For example, people from remote provinces such as Nimrooz, Uruzgan and Nooristan said if they had not received mock ballots and clear instruction about how to vote, they probably would not have taken part in the election, and if they tried to vote would likely have cast invalid ballots.

In the conflict resolution component of our trainings the Maliks recognized the value of the techniques presented and were inspired to implement procedures to protect human rights and provide security in their constituencies. Incidents of forced marriages to settle disputes, a centuries old practice, have been discouraged due to recognition of the rights of women. As an example of tradition meeting the need of the day, in Khost Maliks decided to form 'arbaki' tribal peacekeeping operations. Volunteers helped to maintain law and order during the election and afterwards.

We have learned that locally adaptive democracy is effective and that we should build on our existing values and norms. The more we interact with communities and their leaders, the more they will be involved in the rebuilding of their country.

Effective communication can make a difference. Afghan communities are receptive to ideas that promote democracy provided the right approach is used.

Who are Maliks?

In Afghanistan’s recent history, the most effective agents in advancing peace and security at the local level have been indigenous structures such as shura and jirga councils, as well as Maliks and Khans. In Afghanistan’s predominantly rural society, these structures provide critical avenues through which citizens’ rights may be protected and views effectively represented in political decision making processes. Maliks, from the Arabic term meaning “proprietor,” alternatively known as Arbabs and Qariya-dar, are key local power brokers throughout Afghanistan who serve as defacto arbiters in local conflicts, interlocutors in state policy-making, tax-collectors, heads of village and town councils and delegates to provincial and national jirgas as well as to Parliament.

Given the important role that Maliks play in Afghan politics and society, and based on past incidents of undemocratic practices such as corruption and vote-selling in national elections, it is critical to support and encourage democratic practices among Maliks, so that they may realize their potential as a driving force for institutionalizing democracy and advancing security at the local level.