Democracy-Building in Afghanistan

Comprehensive Unit87 pagesGrade Level: High School – Community CollegeIncludes curriculum unit + DVD ("Hell of A Nation") Centered on the documentary film Hell of a Nation, this curriculum unit introduces students to the complex process of building democracy in Afghanistan. Hell of a Nation documents the lives of two Afghans participating in the political process to develop a new constitution for Afghanistan—illustrating the "human face" of democracy-building and elucidating the complexities and difficulties of democratic construction in a divided and historically conflict-ridden nation. This unit provides students the opportunity to engage more deeply with issues raised in Hell of a Nation and to learn more about the politics of the loya jirga in which Afghanistan's new constitution was ratified. Lesson One introduces students to the geography, history, economy, cultural diversity, and political context of Afghanistan. This information goes through the country's history and ends