Poverty and social policies related to poverty in Afghanistan: a study on Hazaras in Bamyan

Purpose This research applies a sociological approach to analyze poverty in Bamyan, Afghanistan and seeks to understand its root causes, contributing factors, impacts and the possible interventions to eradicate poverty. Design/methodology/approach A mixed-methods approach – quantitative and qualitative methods were used to collect data through questionnaires, interviews and focus groups. The quantitative data were processed by descriptive analysis using SPSS for Pearson correlation, and the qualitative data were analyzed through coding and MAXQDA. Findings The findings indicate that the poverty in Bamyan is not only an economic issue but rather an intertwined social and political problem. It is accompanied by many factors, including unemployment, illiteracy, historical social discrimination, weak public services and absence of social justice. Further, the statistical analysis of the data confirms that poverty is significantly associated with unemployment, illiteracy, social exclusion, low economic status and domestic violence. Moreover, ethnocentric bias, imbalances of power and failures in government policy design shape public perceptions of poverty and contribute significantly to its persistence in Bamyan. In this area, poverty has intensified social problems, including addiction, violence, crime, coercive migration, social disintegration and insecurity. Originality/value This research is unique in exploring poverty as a profound social and political crisis, using a contextual and holistic approach. This is valuable because it advocates for participatory, revitalizing and holistic policymaking rooted in social and governance reform, energizing local communities and optimizing public services. It also helps in formulating a framework for poverty analysis for other underprivileged regions of Afghanistan.