Afghan Perspective on Democracy Differs From Western View

What democracy means for an American is quite different than what democracy means for an Afghan.  A research team from the Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit (AREU) has been studying this topic for a few years.  For instance, to Afghans, the word "democracy" means much more than an elected government; they extend the meaning to encompass a vast range of Western ideals and liberalism far beyond representative governance. "Democracy" to many Afghans has a negative connotation - reflecting many of the perceived negative aspects of Western society such as immorality and secularism.  The authors observations are provided to us in an article posted on a blog at Foreign Policy Magazine.  Read the comments of Anna Larson and Oliver Lough in "Afghan perspectives on democracy", The AFPAK Channel, Foreign Policy, February 9, 2011.