BACKGROUND

Since the fall of the Taliban regime in the autumn of 2001, Afghanistan has been the subject of a massive multilateral military intervention and state-building process. The reconstruction of Afghanistan has been widely touted in the international community as a key to regional and global stability.  However, the situation in Afghanistan has steadily deteriorated despite recognition of the mission's importance and the investment of significant resources in the reconstruction venture. Researchers participating in this ongoing research project monitor and analyze developments in Afghanistan’s post-conflict transition, particularly on security issues.

PROJECT ACTIVITIES

The project’s ongoing research includes the Afghanistan Paper Series, which began after a 2009 workshop, co-organized with the Centre for International Policy Studies at the University of Ottawa. The series seeks to challenge existing ideas, contribute to ongoing debates and influence international policy on issues related to Afghanistan’s transition to national stability.

One major activity in December 2008 was the Afghanistan Town Hall, a live event held at CIGI that utilized video conferencing technology to convene a Canadian national dialogue on the Afghan mission. Following the event, a report entitled The Way Forward in Afghanistan summarized reflections and recommendations on Canada's policy towards Afghanistan.