SOC ACE researchers discuss monitoring illicit economies in Afghanistan at GI-TOC 24hr conference on Global Organised Crime

SOC ACE joins GI-TOC 24hr Conference on Global Organised Crime to discuss ‘Monitoring the evolution of illicit economies in Afghanistan.’

At the recent 24-hour Global Conference on Organised Crime, led by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC), SOC ACE researchers discussed the evolving landscape of illicit economies in Afghanistan under the new Taliban regime. The panel included SOC ACE Director Professor Heather Marquette (University of Birmingham), Dr John Collins (GI-TOC), Alastair MacBeath (GI-TOC), and Dr Arian Sharifi (Princeton University).

The discussion focused on how the Taliban's return to power in 2021 has impacted illicit economies within Afghanistan, the surrounding region, and the global community. The panellists examined potential future developments and the implications for international drug policy. 

In collaboration with the SOC ACE research program at the University of Birmingham, the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC) is working on a project funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). This initiative aims to monitor the evolution of illicit markets and the political economy in Afghanistan through extensive fieldwork and research.

Panellist Alastair MacBeath, is co-author of latest SOC ACE paper from GI-TOC ‘Lost in Transition: Gold Mining and the Political Economy of Takhar, Afghanistan.’