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Violence, Terrorism, and Identity Politics in Afghanistan: The Securitisation of Higher Education

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  • Christian Kaunert

    (International Centre for Policing and Security, University of South Wales, Pontypridd CF37 4BD, UK)

  • Arif Sahar

    (Centre of Excellence in Terrorism, Resilience, Intelligence and Organised Crime Research [CENTRIC], Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield S1 1WB, UK)

Abstract

This article investigates the securitisation of the higher education sector in Afghanistan by examining ‘hidden’ non-discursive practices as opposed to overt discursive threat construction. Non-discursive practices are framed by the habitus inherited from different social fields, whereas in Afghanistan, securitising actors converge from different habitus (e.g., institutions, professions, backgrounds) to bar the ‘other’ ethnic or social groups from resources and spaces which could empower these groups to become a pertinent threat, a fear, and a danger to the monopoly of the state elites over the state power and resources. The most prominent securitisation practices emerging from the data include mainly (1) the obstruction of the formation of critical ideas and politics; (2) the obstruction of economic opportunities; and (3) the obstruction of social justice. This article deploys a case study methodology and uses the Kabul University as its subject of investigation.

Suggested Citation

  • Christian Kaunert & Arif Sahar, 2021. "Violence, Terrorism, and Identity Politics in Afghanistan: The Securitisation of Higher Education," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-20, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jscscx:v:10:y:2021:i:5:p:150-:d:543268
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Pouliot, Vincent, 2008. "The Logic of Practicality: A Theory of Practice of Security Communities," International Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 62(2), pages 257-288, April.
    2. Bache, Ian & Taylor, Andrew, 2003. "The Politics of Policy Resistance: Reconstructing Higher Education in Kosovo," Journal of Public Policy, Cambridge University Press, vol. 23(3), pages 279-300, September.
    3. Hafizullah Emadi, 2001. "Radical political movements in Afghanistan and their politics of peoples' empowerment and liberation," Central Asian Survey, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(4), pages 427-450.
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