There are significant parallels between political action in Egypt and Afghanistan. Large­ scale protests have taken place in both nations, and as a result, their respective administrations have undergone considerable changes. However, there are some significant distinctions between the two nations as well.

The fact that both Afghanistan and Egypt have a history of military rule is a crucial commonality. Governments have repressed any dissent or protest in both nations by using their authority. This has made it exceedingly challenging for activists to organize and work without restriction. As a result, tiny, risk-taking groups of individuals have organized the majority of the protests in both nations.

Another similarity between Egypt and Afghanistan is that both countries' protestors have generally succeeded in their objectives. In Afghanistan, the protests culminated in the fall of the Taliban government, while in Egypt, they forced Hosni Mubarak out of office. These victories have motivated protestors all across the world and demonstrated that nonviolent demonstrations can be a powerful weapon for change.

However, there are also some significant distinctions between Egypt and Afghanistan. The general level of violence among Afghan demonstrators has been higher than that of their Egyptian counterparts, which is a significant distinction. This is probably because the Afghan government has used far more force against demonstrators there than it ever did against those in Egypt. Another distinction is that the demonstrations in Afghanistan have not yet resulted in any long-term modifications to the nation's political system. Despite being legitimately elected, the new administration has failed to stabilize or bring peace to the nation. Contrarily, though it is still attempting to consolidate its authority, Egypt's new administration already seems more stable than the one that came before it.

There have been a variety of effects on Afghanistan and Egypt from the successful uprisings in those nations. It aided in putting more pressure on each government's foreign policy. Since the Taliban were ousted, the Afghan government has been the subject of increased international scrutiny, while Mubarak's fall has increased pressure on the Egyptian government to implement democratic reforms.

The growth of democracy in Afghanistan has been impeded by a variety of religious restrictions. The significance of Islam in Afghan society is one major barrier. Afghanistan's main religion is Islam, which has a big influence on how politics are run there (Esposito, 2000). All legislation in Afghanistan is based on Islamic law or sharia. Because of this, it has been extremely difficult to pass secular reforms that are essential for the growth of democracy. The impact of orthodox clerics on Afghan politics is another significant barrier. These clergies have fought any reforms that would diminish their influence or power. They have used their clout to thwart changes that would promote more democracy in Afghanistan.