Princeton University's Afghanistan Policy Lab (APL) invites scholars and practitioners to a one-day conference examining how non-violent action operates under the Taliban's religious authoritarian rule, and what theoretical and empirical insights can be drawn from Afghanistan's experience since 2021.

The Taliban's return to power in 2021 has created a context in which conventional political avenues for change have been severely constrained. Yet, across Afghanistan, diverse forms of non-violent resistance continue to emerge—from everyday acts of political defiance to more organized collective action. These resistance practices not only challenge the Taliban's authority but also reveal the ways in which power and counter-power operate in contexts where formal political channels have collapsed.

This conference seeks to develop an understanding of how non-violent action functions under religious authoritarianism. The Taliban's particular blend of ethno-religious legitimation, territorial control, and lack of domestic and international legitimacy creates distinctive dynamics for resistance that current theoretical models inadequately capture.

While women's resistance has rightfully received significant attention, the broader ecosystem of non-violent action in Afghanistan remains undertheorized. This ecosystem includes active defiance, protest, public art installations, sit-ins, online campaigns of solidarity, institutional resistance, musical performances, and other forms of civic resistance. This conference brings together scholars and practitioners to examine these diverse manifestations of resistance and develop theoretical frameworks that can better account for their dynamics, motivations, and potential trajectories.