Three years after the Taliban takeover, the international community continues to struggle to both understand and find ways to support the people of Afghanistan as they face increasing poverty, food insecurity, and limits to their participation, rights and voice in the Taliban’s vision of Afghan society.
Are there opportunities for change, and if so, how might this change happen?
Who is the course for?
Policy makers, practitioners, aid workers, academics and the media
Participants wanting to obtain 5 ECTS points upon passing the course, must fulfil the admission requirements to do so. Participants must be able to document that they have obtained a bachelor degree or equivalent.
Participants who lack such qualifications can follow the course and obtain a course certificate upon completion.
All participants must be 25 years or older and be able to document at least two years of work experience.
About the course
This unique course will provide both an understanding of the key historical and political events that have created Afghanistan as we see it today, and a framework to navigate a way forward for policy makers, practitioners, aid workers, and the media.
The course will be held in conjunction with Afghanistan Week (AW) 2024 in Oslo, Norway, where participants combine two days of lectures and discussion, with three days of participation in AW sessions where panels of international and Afghan experts provide up-to-date insights on key issues.
Participants will choose one theme or question covered in the course that they would like to explore in more depth, and spend the following days attending the Afghanistan Week sessions, where they will listen to a variety of experts sharing their experience and reflections on 'three Years of Taliban Rule'.
The course can be taken either:
- Online version (lectures 24-25 October, streaming of AW 30 October - 1 November), or
- In-person version (lectures 28-29 October, in-person. Oslo
- Afghanistan Week sessions 30 October - 1 November (In-person participants will be able to interact in the sessions and with presenters, and attend AW events not being streamed for free. Some sessions will be available by streaming for online participants on the course
Participants are expected to read some articles and watch a recorded background lecture before the start of the course. Participants can choose to take the course for a certificate, or for 5 study points (Master's level), which requires a brief paper in addition to the final presentation.
Course content
- Overview of developments in Afghanistan since 1979 that have led to the current situation
- Current structure and decision-making under the Taliban authorities
- Strategies and priorities of the Islamic Emirates of Afghanistan - who are the winners and losers?
- Engagement with the Taliban government without legitimising the regime
- Current opportunities and barriers faced by men and women in Afghanistan
- What role do the Afghan diaspora play in all this?