The American Institute of Afghanistan Studies (AIAS) is a private, non-profit organization run by scholars with the aim of promoting and encouraging the systematic study of the culture, society, land, languages, health, peoples and history of Afghanistan. It will be especially concerned with increasing the numbers of scholars in the United States who have expertise in, and understanding of Afghanistan, and to assist in the rebuilding of academic institutions and the advanced study of Afghanistan by Afghan scholars.
Call for Applications: 2012 John F. Richards Fellowship Program
The American Institute of Afghanistan Studies (AIAS) invites applications for support of short-term research or other scholarly projects that will advance the knowledge of Afghanistan. The Institute will be accepting applications for proposed projects along two tiers of the John F. Richards Fellowship Program. The program includes two different types of fellowships. Applicants must be individual members of AIAS to apply. For more information on the fellowships, please see the Fellowships page. To begin an online application, please go to the online application form.
2012 Getty Research Exchange Fellowship Program for the Mediterranean Basin and Middle East
The American Institute for Afghanistan Studies (AIAS) and the Council of American Overseas Research Centers (CAORC) are pleased to announce a new cycle of the Getty Research Exchange Fellowship Program. The program will draw on the resources, facilities, and contacts of American overseas research centers located in Algeria and Turkey to enable the recipients to further their research and to build professional networks in and among the host countries. This fellowship is open to Afghani schoalrs who have already obtained a Ph.D. or have professional experience in the in the field of art history and who wish to undertake a specific research project in Algeria or Turkey related to the seminar theme: Art and Archaeology of the Sacred in Algeria or Vision andVisual Culture in Byzantium in Turkey. Approximately ten fellows total will be selected – five to conduct research in Algeria and five to conduct research in Turkey. For additional information on the program and application information, please see the listing in Fellowships.
Rule of Law in Afghanistan Conference Report Available
In September 2010, the American Institute of Afghanistan Studies convened a conference to examine the rule of law in Afghanistan. Conference participants included lawyers, social scientists, diplomats and practitioners. One of the most significant defects of state building in Afghanistan has been its failure to achieve rule of law after almost a decade of effort. Despite intense efforts made by the international community to build the Afghan government's capacity, the formal system of justice fails to meet the country’s needs. Indeed, the government’s incapacity and corruption are often cited as reasons for popular support of the Taliban, who have touted their ability to resolve the disputes that government-appointed officials cannot. What can be done to resolve this? How can traditional systems be used? To read the full report, please click here.
Appeal for AHA Richards Book Prize
The South Asia caucus of the American Historical Association has voted to create an endowed book prize in honor of the late, founding President of AIAS, John F. Richards. For more information on the fund drive to create the prize and how you can help, please click here.
Fundamentals of Governance in Afghanistan Conference Report Available
In late June 2009, the Hollings Center for International Dialogue and the American Institute of Afghanistan Studies (AIAS) convened leading experts from Afghanistan, Europe, Turkey, and the United States in Istanbul for a three-day conference, entitled “Fundamentals of Governance in Afghanistan,” to explore governance, widely seen as central to Afghanistan’s progress. The conference focused on three crucial areas: central government capacity; the rule of law; and subnational governance. This short report offers the key recommendations emerging from the discussions.
Member Resource Section Now Open
AIAS is pleased to announce the creation of a section to provide further resources for its institutional members and individual members. The section currently contains space where members may post publications or information about research projects, as well as information on member benefits at the Kabul Center. This section will be expanded in the coming months.
