SOC ACE takes part in GI TOC 24hr conference panel on "Monitoring the evolution of illicit economies in Afghanistan"

SOC ACE attends GI-TOC Global Conference on Organised Crime

In a 24 hour virtual conference addressing the future of illicit economies and organised crime in Afghanistan, the SOC ACE Research Programme, attended a timely panel on ‘Monitoring the evolution of illicit economies in Afghanistan.’

On 18 October, Professor Heather Marqeutte, joined John Collins (Director of Academic Engagement, GI-TOC), Dr. Arian Sharifi (Lecturer and Researcher, Princeton School of Public and International Affairs) and Alastair MacBeath (Analyst - Global Policy Team, GI-TOC) on a panel focused on the evolving landscape of Afghanistan’s illicit markets and political economy following the Taliban's takeover in 2021. Since the regime change, the dynamics of illicit markets and organised crime in Afghanistan and the surrounding region have been in a state of flux. Recognising the critical need for robust monitoring and analysis, SOC ACE partners at GI-TOC have been at the forefront of developing new infrastructure to track these changes. Their comprehensive fieldwork and research are part of a broader initiative funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) under the SOC ACE Research Programme.

The project aims to explore the implications of the Taliban’s rule for illicit economies within Afghanistan and its ripple effects on regional and global scales. By fostering evidence-based policy discussions, the initiative seeks to enhance multilateral cooperation and devise more effective strategies to address and contain the complexities of illicit trade and organised crime.

Experts at the Global Conference on Organised Crime, shared insights from recent studies and fieldwork, highlighting the shifting patterns in drug production, trafficking routes, and the broader socio-economic impacts under the new political regime. The analysis provided by SOC ACE and GI-TOC aims to inform international drug policy discussions and promote a collaborative approach to tackling the challenges posed by Afghanistan’s illicit markets.

The SOC ACE’s involvement underscores the importance of continued research and international dialogue to understand and mitigate the effects of organised crime in regions experiencing political upheaval. The findings and recommendations from this collaboration are expected to contribute significantly to shaping future policies and fostering a more coordinated global response to these pressing issues.