Speaker
Description
The research investigates security perceptions and coping strategies among Afghan citizens experienced living in Afghanistan under Taliban rule post-August 2021, employing a vernacular security approach. This approach explores how individuals construct, understand, and experience (in)security in their daily lives, offering a bottom-up perspective often overlooked in mainstream security studies.
Through qualitative online interviews conducted via platforms like WhatsApp, the study captures the multifaceted nature of insecurity experienced by ordinary Afghan citizens after the Taliban’s return to power. It encompasses issues related to physical safety, socio-economic stability, preservation of personal freedoms, and psychological well-being. Preliminary findings show that individuals navigate these challenges through adaptive strategies, including altering living arrangements, installing security measures, changing transportation routines, and seeking refuge abroad. The sources of insecurity are diverse, stemming from both state and non-state actors. Threats range from physical harm, such as abduction and theft, to more subtle forms of coercion and control imposed by the Taliban regime.
In sum, emphasizing the importance of a Vernacular Approach, the research sheds light on security dynamics within authoritarian regimes like Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. Negotiating with non-elite individuals enriches our understanding and informs policies aimed at addressing insecurity and fostering resilience within affected communities.
| What discipline or branch of humanities or social sciences do you identify yourself with? | International Development |
|---|---|
| If you are submitting an Open Panel proposal, have you included all four abstracts in attachment? | No, I am submitting a Closed Panel abstract |
| Are you a PhD student or early-career researcher? | Yes |
