This event aims to center the human conditions of Afghans themselves, both in terms of historical developments as well as the challenges of the ongoing crisis. While prevalent media, policy, and academic discourses often center the role of the United States and its military or political allies, this event shifts our focus to the experiences of the people of Afghanistan. Special attention shall be paid to the hardships of the most marginalized and vulnerable communities, such as women and children, ethnic minorities, the internally displaced and refugees abroad, while seeking to address a diversity of experiences and forms of resilience. Despite our focus, we shall also aim to address the question of what led to the latest crisis, what were the key mistakes and responsibilities of the international community, including, but not limited to the US.
Afghanistan Lives: Then and Now
Speakers:
Mejgan Massoumi, College Fellow, Stanford University
Valentine Moghadam, Northeastern University
Arash Azizzada, community organizer
Key Questions and Themes for the Panel:
- A strong focus on the human conditions and experiences of Afghans themselves now, leading up to, and long before the present-day. Inside and outside the country.
- What led to the latest crisis, including key mistakes and responsibilities of the international community, including, but not limited to the US.
- A critical, nuanced, and humane approach to the above issues as well as other integral themes that cannot be separated from this topic, especially gender and the conditions of girls and women in Afghanistan, but also children and other vulnerable communities in the country and in Afghan refugee communities more broadly.