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I hope Tamim doesn't interpret it as people wanting to be at his events so he can sell it to donors:)
Kidding about Tamim. He's a good guy. Frankly, I have become increasingly critical of this whole series of projects, events and shows of expertise involving peace in #AFG. https://twitter.com/DastageerMuska/status/1324358981775728645
Kidding about Tamim. He's a good guy. Frankly, I have become increasingly critical of this whole series of projects, events and shows of expertise involving peace in #AFG. https://twitter.com/DastageerMuska/status/1324358981775728645
Although I have been learning a lot listening to various conversations, I am afraid all the talks are shortsighted & donor driven. It all started with a shift in the US F. policy. Then money followed to shape the discourse. peace became another opportunity for business. Look at
the number of "Think Tanks" popping up in Kabul doing peace. They engage almost exclusively with external audiences. From their publications in English to organizing events, their primary concern is donors, foreign govts and political circles. None are focused on fostering a...
dialogue locally. From the foreigners who are making international careers out of 'studying' #AFG to the politicians and businessmen-turned-peace-activists, their engagement with war and peace is mostly motivated by greed and personal ambitions. Academics talk peace to stay
relevant and consulting firms and research institutes aim at getting a share of the market. Talking peace is therefore, business by other means. Beneficiaries also seem to be foreign govts, unfortunately.
Think Tanks are not built on indigenous needs and for local audiences.
Think Tanks are not built on indigenous needs and for local audiences.
Conversations on peace are aimed at external consumers and feeding foreign policy needs. Most of the discussions about peace and war are shaped in exclusive conversations involving foreigners and a limited number of mostly Afghan men, who are able to communicate in English. These
discussions are often disconnected from conversations happening inside #AFG.
sometimes, I wonder if any of the foreign 'experts' follow the intellectual discussions happening in Afghan universities, read journals published in local languages, or even read the opinion pieces
sometimes, I wonder if any of the foreign 'experts' follow the intellectual discussions happening in Afghan universities, read journals published in local languages, or even read the opinion pieces
by Afghans in the local media. Probably none, as most don't know the language. Many, including the western educated Afghans are dismissive of the intellectual communities inside AFG. The western bias expressed through the symbolism of English and western education make them
overlook the local intellectual communities and conversations happening in local languages among AFG academics, thinkers, students, and the general public. The few of us who have been educated abroad are already feeling the disconnect between the western scholarship on
Afghanistan and the local intellectual conversations. This needs to be addressed.
Unfortunately, the structure of knowledge production on #AFG still remains colonial as it mostly happens in the absence of the Afghans. Most of the Afghans who are educated abroad are adapting to
Unfortunately, the structure of knowledge production on #AFG still remains colonial as it mostly happens in the absence of the Afghans. Most of the Afghans who are educated abroad are adapting to
it without much critical engagement. This is also due to the inherent power relations and the inequality in the academia involving western 'authorities' and local contributors. Afghan scholars often face problem of recognition.
The so called 'Think Tanks' can help address this
The so called 'Think Tanks' can help address this
and bridge between western and indigenous knowledge communities. But that may be too idealistic or even incommensurable with the very idea of think tank as an enterprise. The Think Tank industry was invented to profit off research and policy conversations. that's how it works.
Forgot to add this important thread by @TimorSharan on the problem of recognition and authorship in western knowledge production practices. Authorship is more than recognition; it embodies power and hierarchy, and the right to represent: : https://twitter.com/TimorSharan/status/1320252841135640576?s=20
