Supporting Afghan Researchers at Risk: Critical Analysis of Key Lessons

Authors: Sahar Halaimzai, Marika Theros, and Sobia Kapadia

This paper examines the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan and its education system, which has caused fear and self-censorship among scholars. International cooperation and funding for Afghan research have declined, threatening knowledge production. Given the uncertainty surrounding the future of academic research and the humanitarian crises in Afghanistan, this paper makes nine key recommendations to address the challenges faced by at-risk researchers.

This publication is part of a series highlighting the work and analysis of the Afghanistan Research Network (ARN), a project convened by LSE / PeaceRep, and the Civic Engagement Project (CEP). The network brings together over 20 Afghan researchers (and several non-Afghans) with diverse expertise and backgrounds investigating a range of issues. This project aims to support Afghan researchers who were recently forced to leave Afghanistan; to ensure expert and analytical provision; inform contextually-appropriate international policies and practices on Afghanistan; and to deepen understanding of evolving political, security, and economic dynamics.

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