From the Public Sphere to Digital Power: Understanding AI’s Role in Afghanistan’s Political Transformation

Authors

  • ibrahim Sekandary Amir Ali Sher Navoiy University, Nangarhar, Afghanistan Author
  • Toryalia yousafzia Amir Ali Shernovioy University, Nangrahar, Afghanistan Author
  • Qudratullah Sangeen Matanat University Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.65496/jssme.2026.89

Keywords:

Algorithmic Bias, Artificial Intelligence, Digital Power, Political Engagement, Political Transformation, Public Sphere

Abstract

Over the past decade, artificial intelligence (AI) has had a profound impact on politics, public relations, and the way people interact with the state. This study focuses on the transformation of digital political engagement through AI technology in Afghanistan, where technological infrastructure, media freedom, and digital literacy are still weak. The study draws on Jürgen Habermas’s theory of “public sphere” and the theory of “technological arbitrage” to explore how AI is transforming information transparency, public participation, and the transparency of political decisions. The study was conducted using à quantitative and descriptive-analytical method, with data collected through a questionnaire from 217 political science graduates from private universities in Nangarhar province. According to the results, AI offers opportunities for promoting transparency, better data management, and good governance, but also carries serious risks of misinformation, algorithmic bias, and digital deception. Most participants affirmed the need for ethical frameworks, Sharia principles, and a national legal system. The study concludes that the future of Afghanistan’s digital democracy will only be bright when the public’s digital literacy, public awareness, and principles of transparency and accountability are strengthened. This shift will transform artificial intelligence from a tool of control to a tool of popular power.

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Published

2026-06-13

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 1 (2026)

Section

Articles

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Copyright (c) 2026 ibrahim Sekandary, Toryalia yousafzia, Qudratullah Sangeen (Author)

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How to Cite

Sekandary, ibrahim, Toryalia yousafzia, & Qudratullah Sangeen. (2026). From the Public Sphere to Digital Power: Understanding AI’s Role in Afghanistan’s Political Transformation. Journal of Social Science and Multidisciplinary Enquiry, 2(1), 57-68. https://doi.org/10.65496/jssme.2026.89