On 23 June, Salzburg Global Seminar published NESA Center alum Mustafa Aryan's latest piece "Navigating Afghanistan’s Complex Path Towards Freedom and Inclusion."

This op-ed is part of a series, written by Salzburg Global Fellows and speakers of the Salzburg Global Weekend, with the theme "Democracy on the Front Lines." Aryan explores "Democracy on the Front Lines" through the lens of Afghanistan's setbacks towards democracy.

"The current situation in Afghanistan presents a critical challenge to the pursuit of democracy as the country faces the return of Taliban rule. Afghanistan's path towards democracy has been marked by complexities, setbacks, and persistent challenges. In this reflection, I aim to shed light on the multifaceted nature of Afghanistan's democratic journey, particularly in the face of the Taliban's restrictions on women's rights, education, and the broader goals of inclusivity and freedom."

Read the full article here

About the Author

Mustafa Aryan is the executive director of the Security, Gender & Development Institute, which operates as an international volunteer network of experts producing research and events focused on a gendered analysis of international security topics. Aryan has worked in Afghanistan's private and public sectors for the last 11 years.

About the Publisher

Salzburg Global Seminar is a non-profit organization that challenges current and future leaders to shape a better world. It convenes programs on health care, education, culture, finance, technology, public policy, media, human rights, corporate governance, philanthropy, and the environment. Since 1947, Salzburg Global has welcomed more than 40,000 participants, known as Salzburg Global Fellows, from more than 170 countries.

The views presented in this article are those of the speaker or author and do not necessarily represent the views of DoD or its components.