The 2025 ALPA Annual Conference: A Landmark Gathering for Scholars of Afghanistan Studies

Oct. 26, 2025

The 2025 ALPA Annual Conference was held on October 3 and 4 at the University of Pittsburgh. Titled “Taliban and Alternatives: Religion, Governance, and Society,” the conference stood out as the largest academic gathering on Afghanistan held outside the country. With close to one hundred presenters and over one hundred attendees participating in person and virtually, the event became a vibrant space for exchange, collaboration, and intellectual renewal at a time when academic freedom within Afghanistan remains under severe pressure.

Opening and Keynote

The conference was inaugurated by Dr. Bashir Mobasher, President of ALPA, and Dr. Jennifer Murtazashvili, Director of the Center for Governance and Markets. Their welcoming remarks emphasized the importance of sustaining Afghan scholarship in exile and the power of knowledge as a form of resilience and resistance. The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Magnus Marsden, who shared insights from his latest book, The Sheep Roads of Central Asia. Drawing on decades of ethnographic research, Dr. Marsden explored how trade networks originating in Central Asia connected Afghan herders and merchants with markets in Russia, Europe, and North America. His reflections on mobility, minority entrepreneurship, and cross-cultural exchange captivated the audience and set the intellectual tone for the rest of the conference.

This year, ALPA intentionally did not announce a conference theme until the inauguration of the conference to encourage a wide range of submissions across disciplines. The result was a rich tapestry of discussions spanning law, politics, sociology, history, education, gender, cultural studies, economics, and other social science and humanities disciplines. The conference featured some leading scholars including Thomas Barfield, and Nazif Shahranities. Their conversation revisited Afghanistan’s historical patterns of governance and highlighted indigenous models of political organization that predate the modern nation-state. The participants emphasized that Afghanistan’s political history cannot be reduced to a narrative of failure but should instead be understood as a mosaic of local autonomy and regional cooperation.

Across twenty five panels, participants addressed some of Afghanistan’s most pressing issues. Many sessions focused on education under Taliban rule, spotlighting the determination of Afghan girls and women who continue to pursue knowledge through online and underground schooling. Others explored justice and accountability, including documentation of Taliban-led abuses for submission to international legal bodies. Discussions on refugee experiences and cultural resistance showcased how Afghan artists, poets, and activists continue to produce creative work as a form of defiance and survival. Scholars also examined the Taliban’s legal and economic structures, revealing their governance challenges and the limits of their engagement with global markets.

New Additions and Highlights

The 2025 conference introduced several new initiatives that expanded ALPA’s academic reach and inclusivity. A major innovation was the first Research and Publication Workshop, moderated by Dr. Omar Sadr of Negotiating Ideas. The session featured Dr. Thomas Barfield, Mustafa Saqib, Zahra Tawana, and Dr. Mirwais Balkhi, who offered practical advice on the publication process and emphasized the importance of multilingual research in Persian and Pashto.

Another major milestone was the launch of the ALPA Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, a trilingual platform dedicated to publishing original research in Persian, Pashto, and English. The journal aims to create space for Afghan scholars whose work often remains excluded from international publishing circles.

The Publication Exhibition also returned this year, featuring over one hundred academic publications and a moving collection of artworks by Afghan women currently based inside Afghanistan. This exhibition became a powerful symbol of intellectual endurance and creative resistance under oppression.

The conference also included two book talks. One discussed the Persian translation of Global International Relations, exploring how the Global South is reshaping the field of international thought. The second highlighted Power and Authority in Afghanistan, a timely English-language study of the country’s evolving political legitimacy.

In addition, ALPA held research committee meetings, enabling academic clusters to elect new leadership, admit members, and plan future collaborative projects. A new mobile conference app offered participants real-time access to the program, updates, and logistics, improving accessibility for both in-person and online attendees.

Beyond the formal sessions, the conference hosted community-building activities, including a group dinner and a guided cultural tour of Pittsburgh, both of which strengthened personal and professional connections among participants.

Recognitions and Awards

In keeping with ALPA’s tradition of recognizing excellence, several awards were presented. Dr. Haroun Rahimi received the Best Book Award, while Dr. Rajab Taeib, Dr. Zabi Obaidy, and Dr. Mahir Hazem received the Best Article Awards for their outstanding contributions. The newly established Jon Eddy Awards, honoring Professor Jon Eddy of the University of Washington, celebrated excellence in education and civic engagement. Sayed Ashraf Muzafari received Jon Eddy Award for Excellence in Teaching, while Geety Haidary and Fatima Moqadam were recognized for Civic Excellence.

The success of the 2025 ALPA Annual Conference was made possible through the invaluable partnership of the Center for Governance and Markets, the American Institute of Afghanistan Studies, and the generous support of numerous private donors. ALPA expresses its deepest gratitude for their commitment and contribution, which made this gathering both possible and impactful. We also extend heartfelt thanks to all conference participants, members of the Organizing Committee, and the dedicated volunteers whose hard work and enthusiasm ensured the success of this year’s event.