Afghanistan

Dr. Mansoor Ehsan joins the Carter School as Scholar in Residence

Paul Snodgrass — Fri, 24 Jun 2022 19:42:24 +0000

Dr. Mansoor Ehsan joins the Carter School as Scholar in Residence Paul Snodgrass Fri, 06/24/2022 - 15:42

In This Story

In partnership with the GMU Afghan Scholars Program, the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution welcomes Dr. Mansoor Ehsan. A political analyst and researcher, Dr. Ehsan joins the Carter School as Scholar in Residence for a year beginning this summer. Dr. Ehsan comes to the Carter School with a wealth of knowledge and experience on the topics of democracy, nationalism, and peace building.

Dr. Mansoor Ehsan is a seasoned political analyst who specializes in Afghanistan and Central Asia studies. He has over nine years of research experience and numerous publications. Dr. Ehsan has published extensively in credible publications on the topics of democracy, nationalism, state-building, peace-building, political Islam, and human security. In his book "Democratization Process in Afghanistan: Islam, Tradition, and Modernity", he gave a comprehensive analysis of the democratization process in Afghanistan. In addition to his research and teaching expertise, Dr. Ehsan served from 2014 to 2016 as the Head of the Center for Law and Political Science at Karwan University in Kabul. He has also taught international affairs at Kabul University and the Center for Diplomacy and International Studies (DIS) at the University of Afghanistan. To add to his many accomplishments, he is a founding member of the Kabul-based think tank, the Afghanistan Association of Political Science and International Relations (AAPSIR).”

The ��ӽ紫ý Afghan Scholars Program was designed to help scholars and researchers who recently left Afghanistan apply for an academic appointment as visiting scholars. The Carter School is grateful to Edward and Nancy Rice, whose generous gift made this appointment possible. To learn more about this program or to support this endeavor, please see the announcement of the Afghan Scholars Program.

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Carter School Visiting Scholars

Research

Mansoor Ehsan

Paul Snodgrass — Fri, 24 Jun 2022 16:13:35 +0000

Mansoor Ehsan Paul Snodgrass Fri, 06/24/2022 - 12:13

Scholar in Residence, 2023-2024

Biography

Dr. Mansoor Ehsan is a seasoned political analyst who specializes in Afghanistan and Central Asia studies. He has over nine years of research experience and numerous publications. Dr. Ehsan has published extensively in credible publications on the topics of democracy, nationalism, state-building, peace-building, political Islam, and human security. In his book "Democratization Process in Afghanistan: Islam, Tradition, and Modernity", he gave a comprehensive analysis of the democratization process in Afghanistan. In addition to his research and teaching expertise, Dr. Ehsan served from 2014 to 2016 as the Head of the Center for Law and Political Science at Karwan University. He has also taught international affairs at Kabul University and the Center for Diplomacy and International Studies (DIS) at the University of Afghanistan. To add to his many accomplishments, he is a founding member of the Kabul-based think tank, the Afghanistan Association of Political Science and International Relations (AAPSIR).”

Dr. Ehsan joined the Carter School as Scholar in Residence in 2022 as part of ��ӽ紫ý's Afghan Scholars Program.

New program welcomes Afghan scholars to Mason

Mariam Aburdeineh — Fri, 04 Feb 2022 19:21:53 +0000

New program welcomes Afghan scholars to Mason Mariam Aburdeineh Fri, 02/04/2022 - 14:21

In This Story

Alpaslan Özerdem

��ӽ紫ý's Fairfax Campus. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Creative Services/��ӽ紫ý

To support Afghan refugees needing to relaunch their careers in the United States, ��ӽ紫ý is inviting scholars and researchers who have recently left Afghanistan to apply for an academic appointment as visiting scholars.

“At Mason, we care about what happens in our societies whether here in Virginia, regionally, nationally or globally,” said Alpaslan Özerdem, dean of Mason’s Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution.

“As the Carter School, we wanted to respond to the crisis in a way that we’d address a critical cluster of challenges effectively, through our own resources and capacities as an academic institution,” he said. “It was almost a natural reaction for us to think about ways of helping.”

“The Office of the Provost is committed to help our deans and respective academic units welcome Afghan professors and researchers to our institution and have a potential impact on their safety and scholarly work”, said Laurence Bray, associate provost for graduate education.

The program is open to Afghans who have legal residence in the United States or are in the process of obtaining a U.S. Visa. Selected scholars selected will receive financial and institutional support from Mason for a year, with a possible option for renewal.

“As visiting scholars, they’d be able to integrate themselves in both ongoing and prospective research initiatives, leading to opportunities for the renewal of their Mason affiliation,” Özerdem said. “More importantly, with their wealth of experience in post-conflict reconstruction and peacebuilding, as well as their specific areas of disciplinary expertise, Afghan scholars and researchers have so much to contribute to U.S. higher education [and to Mason].”

The scholars will be evaluated on criteria including their credentials, ability to travel to the United States, professional experience, and a field of study that aligns with a participating Mason school or college.

The program speaks to Mason’s mission.

“We value not only diversity and access, but also fraternity and solidarity in responding to socio-economic and political challenges,” Özerdem said. “It was great that this idea by the Carter School was integrated into the university’s plans for responding to higher education needs of Afghan refugees, and it is wonderful that the program is already up and running.”

The Afghan Scholars program also provides an opportunity for giving back, Özerdem said.

“There are many people in our communities who would like to help Afghan refugees, and by supporting this program, they’d have a direct contribution in helping those scholars rebuild their lives,” he said. “Historically, there have been many examples in which scholars who fled to the U.S. have generously contributed to the development of sciences and technology in this country, and now we have an opportunity to make it happen again.”

For more information and to apply to the Afghan Scholars Program, click here.

The Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, in partnership with ��ӽ紫ý, is committed to supporting at least one Afghan scholar. If you would like to support the program, please visit this link to make a gift: https://advancement.gmu.edu/22CAR1

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Campus News

Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution

Mason volunteers give time, expertise to help Afghan refugees

Colleen Rich — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 16:41:14 +0000

Mason volunteers give time, expertise to help Afghan refugees Colleen Rich Thu, 08/26/2021 - 12:41

Volunteers with Mason ties on site at Northern Virginia Community College. Photo provided

After three tours of duty in Afghanistan as an Army Ranger medic, Keith Jochem said he knows the Afghan people as caring, welcoming and generous.

His wife, Shazia, is also from Afghanistan, having grown up in Kabul, from where her family fled the Russian invasion in the 1980s.

That is why Jochem, a ��ӽ紫ý police lieutenant, said he jumped at the chance to volunteer to help when a group of 174 Afghan refugees, fleeing the Taliban takeover of their country on a U.S. government flight, sheltered for 24 hours at Northern Virginia Community College’s gym in Annandale, Aug. 20-21.

“It was heartbreaking,” Jochem said. “You have to put yourselves in their shoes. What if something happened here and you had to gather some of your clothes and documents and your family? You go to a different country, you don’t know the language, you don’t know the culture, you’re thrown into a gym, and that’s it.”

Jochem was one of 29 volunteers with Mason ties who gave of their time at Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC). Volunteers came from the Emergency Operations Group, University Police, the Office of the Provost, Information Technology Services, the Office of Business Services, and the regional campuses.

Dave Farris, executive director of Safety and Emergency Management at Mason, put out the call after Tom Mayhew, his counterpart at NVCC, notified him the state had activated NVCC as an emergency shelter.

It’s part of an agreement between the schools and the state that when either Mason or NVCC is activated as a shelter, the other lends a hand.

“It worked out fantastic,” Mayhew said. “We couldn’t have done it without the Mason folks.”

Though NVCC was the lead agency, Farris said Mason’s volunteers pitched in wherever necessary—whether it was setting up 500 cots, managing donations, or helping manage the 150 volunteers that showed up, including more than 100 from NVCC and many from the local Afghan community.

“The turnout from the Afghan community was unbelievable, and it absolutely couldn’t have been possible without them,” Farris said.

Mason alum Roya Nasrahti, BS criminology, law, and society ’19, a communications officer with Mason Police, is part of that community, having come to the United States with her family from Afghanistan when she was young.

“I believe the Afghan volunteers and refugees felt more comfortable speaking with me because I spoke the same language,” said Narahti. “I also felt a sense of trust and assurance between us.”

Farris was sure that comfort was appreciated.

“They were extremely tired,” he said of the refugees. “As we walked around initially handing out, food, water and clothing, it was obvious they had been through some terrible events.”

Jochem also speaks some Farsi, and his medical background was valuable. His wife, Shazia, an ER nurse and Mason alum (BS Psychology ’03; BSN ’08), found a babysitter for their three kids, and joined her husband.

For Jochem, seeing the Afghans in distress, including the many children and babies in the group, was jarring.

“Their culture is deep in giving and making sure everyone else is taken care of first before themselves,” he said, adding, “I still have contacts in the military in operations in [Afghanistan] that I spoke with on the phone a couple of days ago. They said what you see on the news is 10 times worse in reality.”

The reality for the refugees was that their travels, after a 13-hour flight from Afghanistan, were not over in Virginia. At 8 p.m. on Aug. 21 the last bus pulled away from NVCC for a ride to the Dulles Expo Center, where the refugees waited for a flight to Texas and processing.

“I know they’ve been through a lot,” Nasrahti said of the refugees. “The people have been extremely traumatized. We opened our doors and hearts to let them in and keep them safe.”

HOW TO HELP

Through the Red Cross.
Through the United Nations Refugee Agency.
Through these reputable agencies, via the New York Times.
Through Mason’s Afghan Student Union.

RESOURCES

We understand that members of our Mason community may experience a range of emotions and we want to remind you of resources available at our university. For students, professional support is offered through Counseling and Psychological Services, the Student Support and Advocacy Center, the Office of International Programs and Services, and the Office of Military Services. Contact information and additional University Life resources can be identified and accessed through ulife.gmu.edu.

Faculty and staff resources also are available through the Employee Assistance Program, which can be accessed through your employer-sponsored health insurance. Details can be found on the benefits website at hr.gmu.edu.

Mason’s Department of History and Art History invites you and your students to attend a timely online panel discussion on "The Fall of Afghanistan," featuring Department of History and Art History faculty and a guest speaker with historical training who served 2.5 years in-country. Please share the event announcement (below) and link as you see fit. This event is online, free, and open to the public.

Event details and Zoom link: historyarthistory.gmu.edu/events/12516

Topics

Campus News

Afghanistan

Northern Virginia Community College

The Taliban as a long-term ‘government’ is unrealistic, Mason expert says. Here’s what needs to be done.

Mariam Aburdeineh — Wed, 25 Aug 2021 16:02:23 +0000

The Taliban as a long-term ‘government’ is unrealistic, Mason expert says. Here’s what needs to be done. Mariam Aburdeineh Wed, 08/25/2021 - 12:02

In This Story

Charles Davidson

Charles Davidson. Photo provided.

The Taliban’s reign in Afghanistan is not feasible long-term, said Charles Davidson, executive director of the Political Leadership Academy at ��ӽ紫ý’s Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution.

“The Taliban is a group of warlords…they are not a government, they are not politicians,” Davidson said. “History shows that when warlords fill a political vacuum, it’s only a matter of time until that system breaks down, if they’re not able and willing to allow people who can govern to do their jobs properly.”

Countering the Taliban’s aggressions and achieving a more peaceful outcome will take a multifaceted strategy, he said.

“We have to get people out who we promised we would get out,” Davidson said. “We have to hold to those commitments not only for the safety of our own citizens and the citizens that we worked with in Afghanistan, which is primary, but for the sustainability of our trustworthiness as a nation going forward in foreign policy and diplomatic relations.”

The next step is to promote and protect the safety and security of human rights activists, journalists and others who are likely to be targets of the Taliban-led government, Davidson said, adding protests are likely to increase. “We have to continue to shine a light on their voices so that they’re not lost, and, should they be violently oppressed, that that doesn’t go unnoticed,” he added.

Global awareness could be a gamechanger, he said.

“The reason why the Taliban was able to do what they did the first time around is that no one paid a whole lot of attention,” Davidson said. “We’re accompanying a generation of people who are now educated, who have ideas for their own future—possibilities that were afforded them through keeping oppressive regimes at bay.”

The situation is likely to get much worse before it gets better, Davidson said, which is why the global community needs to support efforts aimed at maintaining their human rights.

“One way the Taliban had other people play into their systems was choosing particular groups to oppress,” he said.

It’s much easier said than done, Davidson said, but if Afghans can stand up for those who are oppressed and work toward a sense of equality rather than playing into systems of hatred and oppression, particularly if they are the ones who benefit, then that is going to slow the systems of power the Taliban is trying to impose.

“The Taliban has made a lot of promises, especially about the economy and women’s rights,” Davidson said. “As they’ve shown, they’re not going to make good on those promises, so we have to make sure we’re making decisions based on what’s best for peace-loving Afghans.”

Charles Davidson is executive director of the Carter School’s Political Leadership Academy and President of the nonprofit ForgottenSong. He earned his PhD in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from Mason in 2019, with a focus in Middle East Conflict. Davidson lived in Afghanistan in 2008-09.

For more information, contact Mariam Aburdeineh at 703-993-9518 or maburdei@gmu.edu.

About ��ӽ紫ý

��ӽ紫ý is Virginia’s largest public research university. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason enrolls 39,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Mason has grown rapidly over the past half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity and commitment to accessibility. Learn more at www2.gmu.edu.

Topics

Carter School Political Leadership Academy

Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution

Afghanistan

Conflict Resolution

Tip Sheet

Forbes Magazine: With Its Captured American Weaponry, The Taliban Is Better Armed Than Ever

Andrew J Schappert — Mon, 23 Aug 2021 17:56:23 +0000

Forbes Magazine: With Its Captured American Weaponry, The Taliban Is Better Armed Than Ever Andrew J Schappert Mon, 08/23/2021 - 13:56

In This Story

Mark N. Katz

Will the Taliban be able to use the aircraft U.S. forces abandoned in Afghanistan? Mark N. Katz doubts it, unless there is foreign assistance which, he says “is unlikely to be forthcoming.”

Topics

Afghanistan

Schar School in the Media

Five key factors contributed to the Taliban’s ability to seize power in Kabul, Mason professor says

Colleen Rich — Tue, 17 Aug 2021 19:29:59 +0000

Five key factors contributed to the Taliban’s ability to seize power in Kabul, Mason professor says Colleen Rich Tue, 08/17/2021 - 15:29

In This Story

Ellen Laipson

As the government in Afghanistan collapsed and the Taliban seized power on the heels of the American exit from the country, Ellen Laipson, former vice chair of the U.S. National Intelligence Council and director of the international security program at the Schar School of Policy and Government, gave her assessment of the situation in an opinion piece for Asia Times. This tip sheet is adapted from that column.

“First is the political context, dating from the very beginning of the post-9/11 invasion,” Laipson, said. “Because the U.S. relied on the Northern Alliance to oust the Taliban from power in 2001, the old warlord system of regional militia and power centers was never dismantled.” This impeded both the creation of a more democratic system, and the establishment of a new security culture that would imbue Western-trained national-security forces with necessary power and prestige, she said.

“Second is the reality of the human capital available to create a modern security sector…. At the pivotal turning point in 2014, U.S. experts estimated that half of the recruits to the armed forces were illiterate.” Before the United States could address essential skills for the defense of Afghanistan, they had to teach reading and writing to troops, with the goal of bringing them to a third-grade vocabulary level. Before an automated payment system was established, “soldiers would routinely leave their posts after payday and walk to their villages to provide their meager pay to their families,” which would often mean they were gone for long periods before returning to training.

“Third are the shortcomings of the political system that evolved through contested elections and failures to confront corruption and mismanagement. Former president Ashraf Ghani, who fled the country on Sunday, failed to inspire Afghans,” Laipson said. Even though national leaders publicly embraced the World Bank and development theories, that was not enough to overcome the country’s socio-economic realities.

“A related fourth factor is captured in Biden’s exasperation with the Ghani administration and its military leaders: Where is the political will to fight?” Laipson said. Without the will, the equipment and training provided by the U.S. could only go so far, she said.

“And last but not least is the hubris of the outside players who believed their own rhetoric about the desire and the ability of the Afghans to emulate the models of a national, integrated military force that would be apolitical and loyal to the nation,” Laipson said.

For more, contact Communications Manager Buzz McClain at bmcclai2@gmu.edu.

About the Schar School

The Schar School of Policy and Government is one of the 10 schools and colleges of ��ӽ紫ý, with approximately 2,000 students, 90 full-time faculty members, and 23 degree and certificate programs offered on Mason’s campuses in Fairfax and Arlington, Va. Among the degree programs are government and international affairs, public policy, public administration, political science, international security, and international commerce and policy. The Schar School prepares undergraduate and graduate students to be leaders and managers who solve problems and advance the public good in all sectors and levels of government—in the United States and throughout the world.

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Tip Sheet

Afghanistan

Schar School of Policy and Government

International Security

Campus News

Schar School News August 2021