In order to gain a more holistic and updated view of the regional connectivity in the Pakistan-Afghanistan region, the Department of Political Science, University of Peshawar and the Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF) Pakistan have been jointly organizing a series of international conferences since 2011. The Department and HSF invite proposals for the 10th International Conference to be held in Baragali, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from 15-17 September, 2021.
Historical Background
Historically, the Pakistan-Afghanistan region has been characterized as one of the turbulent landscapes induced by regional power dynamics, internal conflicts and external invasions. These geo-political factors have been responsible for a perpetual challenges and strife in the region with no foreseeable resolution. Notably, many stakeholders have been active in the past to alter and (re-)demarcate boundaries in order to inscribe and integrate the region into modern-statehood.
In order to address the micro-level political and social injustice, the government of Pakistan has merged the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) region with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Consequently, creating a tremendous opportunity for the ‘democratization from below’ on socio-political and institutional level.
Rationale
The sources of knowledge in the form of oral and traditional codes of conduct conducted the social life for the Pakhtun tribes in the border areas for centuries. These ecologies of knowledge of the socio-cultural setup in the region is an often-neglected subject for academic research. The informal institutions of governance interact with and play upon the formal state institutions. Therefore, such hybridity of the formal and informal is paradoxically promoting and at the same time impeding state building processes in the region. The mainstreaming of the Newly Merged Tribal Districts (NMTDs) is a very challenging new dynamic of the region.
Conference Objective
The main objective of the International Conference is to gain a more holistic and updated view of the regional connectivity in the Pakistan-Afghanistan region by exploring the multiple and multifaceted dynamics of political, economic and social natures. It aims to bring together researchers from diverse fields in order to develop timely and relevant literature and contribute to the existing discourse examining the challenges as well as opportunities when it comes to Pakistan-Afghanistan regional connectivity through their shared border.
Conference Themes
The 2021 International Conference explores the following major questions:
1. What are the new economic and political challenges that should be investigated and what are the ways through which these challenges can be turned into opportunities?
2. How political developments such as merger of the FATA can address the challenges as well as opportunities, especially when it comes to Pakistan-Afghanistan regional connectivity through their shared border?
3. How is the state building process along with new economic initiatives unfolding in the regional integration? And what are the ways in which hurdles to the regional connectivity can be addressed?
A further division of the areas of interest might be the following:
- Democratic Governance and Public Space
- Economic Transformation and Development
- Trade & Economic Integration
- China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) – Economic Dividends/Politics of CPEC
- Governance Reforms in FATA: Mainstreaming and Challenges of Merger with KP
- Changing Electoral/Political Trends
- Theoretical Engagement of the Borderland
- Globalization, Conflict and Local Economies
- Migration, Diaspora, Refugees, and Internally Displaced Persons
- Borders and Transnational Mobility
- Ethno-Nationalism
- Youth and Radicalization
- Periphery within a Periphery? Non-Pakhtun Ethnicities on the Border
- Politics of Identities
- Law, Human Rights and Gender Rights
- Art, Sports, and Politics of Aesthetics
- Sub-National Governments and Governance
- Border Management/ Border Control
- Social Networking and Political Mobilization: Online & Offline
- Power Contestations, State Institutions and Spaces of Governance
- Reconciliation and Changing Geo-Politics of Afghanistan and its Impact on the Region
- Development Narratives: Donor Fatigue (on both sides of the border) and the Question of Sustainability
- Democratic devolution – An Answer for Afghanistan’s Governance Problems?
- Peace Building in Afghanistan – Peace Agreements, Successes and Failures-with impacts across borders.
Submission Guidelines
We request abstracts of no more than 120 words from academicians and practitioners by 15th August 2021. Please also send in a short biography along with the abstract. Abstracts should include a title, research question, information about potential methodological and theoretical frameworks, and a conclusion of the main argument. The selected paper presenters will be contacted after the scrutiny of abstracts. The final date for the submission of complete papers is 30th August 2021.
The paper presenters will be provided with accommodation, food, and transport. We intend to print the conference proceedings and may compile selected papers into an edited book to be published later by a reputable publishing house.
For any further details and abstract submission please email us:
baragali.conference(at)gmail.com
Also Email (cc) to:
Conference Coordinators:
Dr. Sami Raza, Department of Political Science University of Peshawar
Dr. Muhammad Ayub Jan, Department of Political Science University of Peshawar.
Conference Secretary:
Mr. Shehzad Ali, Department of Political Science University of Peshawar.
Note: If it becomes difficult to organize the conference at Baragali Campus due to University’s guidelines about Covid-19 situation then the conference will be organized online.