On October 28, 2008, The Asia Foundation released findings from its fourth public opinion poll in Afghanistan, "Afghanistan in 2008: A Survey of the Afghan People" which covers the largest population sample ever surveyed at one time in all 34 of Afghanistan's provinces. Read more here.
The establishment of a legitimate and credible government continues to challenge Afghanistan, and an absence of security and lack of confidence in most state institutions stands in the way of basic rebuilding efforts. Progress and prosperity continue to elude Afghanistan, despite enormous resources made available by the international community. The opinions of the people of Afghanistan are important to gauge public support and development progress, and government is under pressure to perform in a manner that addresses citizens' needs and concerns. For these reasons, it is crucial that we conduct our annual "Survey of the Afghan People" — the largest, most-comprehensive public survey ever conducted in Afghanistan. This long-term, accurate barometer of national public opinion helps inform the Afghanistan policy debate and continually assesses the direction of the country since 2001. This year's survey found that most Afghans consider the democratic system of government to be essential for fundamental rights and that democratic processes are compatible with Islam. They cited corruption, lack of jobs, and delivery of basic services as significant problems.