The Working Papers Series aims to provide material for new debates and discussions and a space to present rigorous research, work in progress and multi-format work that has been subjected to peer review and comment.

The latest papers to be added to the series can be accessed below:

 

Towards peaceful and plural politics in Afghanistan: Rethinking approaches to Afghan peace-making in the wake of the Taliban takeover

Research for this report was conducted during the winter of 2021/22 and spring of 2022, in the wake of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. During this period, the war in Afghanistan was reconfigured as the struggle by the authoritarian Islamist rulers to impose themselves on a diverse society plus an armed conflict between these ruling Taliban and nationalist resistance forces plus dissident Islamists.

 

Alternative paths to peace - Restoring the local in Afghan peace-making

This study aims to draw attention to the potential for local peace initiatives in Afghanistan to contribute to the broader national peace process. It is based upon the experience of pilot support of local peace initiatives in five areas of the country during 2020 and 2021, along with reflections from Afghan practitioners of local peace-making.

 

An independent assessment of the Afghan peace process June 2018 – May 2021

Research for this report was conducted during the winter of 2020/21 and spring of 2021, a period in which the U.S. failed in efforts to achieve agreement with the Afghan Taliban on post-withdrawal government arrangements, but went ahead with complete withdrawal, nonetheless. Thus, at the time that the report was finalised, the Afghan Republic was in power but facing the Taliban’s final military offensive.

 

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The featured image has been used courtesy of a Creative Commons license.