PERBANDINGAN TALIBAN 1.0 DAN 2.0: ANTARA KONSISTENSI DAN TRANSFORMASI

This thesis is compares two periods of Taliban rule in Afghanistan, namely the first era (1996–2001) and the second era (2021–present). The Taliban are often understood as a non-state actor that has transformed into a de facto regime exercising control over a state. The Taliban’s return to power in 2021 raises questions about whether they have undergone a substantive transformation or merely adjusted their strategies to survive under international pressure. This research employs a qualitative method with a comparative Most Similar System Design (MSSD) approach, focusing on three main dimensions: ideology, power structure, and policy. The findings indicate strong continuity between Taliban 1.0 and Taliban 2.0 in their conservative Deobandi ideological foundations, concentration of power in religious elites, and repressive domestic policies, particularly regarding women’s rights, civil liberties, and media freedom. However, there is also pragmatic transformation in the second era, mainly in foreign policy and the pursuit of international recognition through multi-layer diplomacy and economic cooperation with regional and global actors. This transformation is instrumental rather than normative, and does not fundamentally change the authoritarian nature of the Taliban regime.