WELCOME TO AFGHANISTAN SOCIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION CIC
The Afghanistan Sociological Association CIC is a non-profit, non-governmental scientific organization established to advance sociological knowledge and practice in Afghanistan and among the Afghan diaspora. Afghanistan Sociological Association CIC promotes critical inquiry, academic freedom, and inclusive development through research, education, and community engagement. The Association collaborates with international partners, academic institutions, and civic organizations to foster a more equitable, informed, and cohesive society.
Our Vision:
An independent, trusted and nationally and internationally recognised sociological institution serving as a leading reference point for rigorous research, critical analysis and public engagement on Afghanistan and Afghan communities. The Association deepens understanding of migration, social integration, identity formation, education, gender and employment in national and transnational contexts, with a particular focus on diaspora communities in the United Kingdom and Europe. Through credible scholarship and impactful partnerships, it contributes to stronger, more cohesive societies, empowering migrants and enriching academic and civic life across the UK and beyond.
Our Mission:
The Afghanistan Sociological Association CIC advances sociological knowledge, academic education and public dialogue on Afghanistan and the lived experiences of migrants. Its mission focuses on migration, social integration, civic participation, education, identity, women’s empowerment and employment.
This mission is achieved through:
• Structured scholarly programmes and evidence-based research;
• Community-driven initiatives supporting Afghan and other refugee-background populations;
• Capacity-building activities to foster leadership, skills and resilience;
• Collaborations with UK universities, public institutions, charities, foundations and international partners.
By combining academic research with community engagement, the Association informs policy, strengthens social inclusion, and contributes to a more equitable and cohesive society in the United Kingdom and globally.
Objectives
Conceptual and Strategic Framework
The Afghanistan Sociological Association has developed this framework to guide its programmes and research, focusing on social reconstruction, justice, cultural diversity, indigenous knowledge, and sociological responsibility. It aims to link academic work with lived realities, strengthen social cohesion, promote sustainable peace, and support inclusive social development, particularly for young people and civil society.
Identity, Culture, and Social Diversity
Examining and strengthening multi-layered identities (ethnic, linguistic, religious, and national) and managing cultural diversity as a source of social coexistence rather than conflict.
Indigenous Knowledge and Contextual Sociology
Producing sociological knowledge grounded in the lived experiences of the people of Afghanistan, rather than relying solely on imported theories; bridging academic knowledge with social realities.
Social Peace and Conflict Resolution
Studying the roots of conflict, violence, and extremism, and promoting peace-oriented mechanisms, social dialogue, and local mediation.
Migration, Return, and Diaspora
Analysing the social consequences of large-scale migration, the conditions of Afghan migrants and returnees, and the role of the Afghan diaspora in social development.
Civil Society Empowerment
Strengthening the role of civil society organisations, local associations, intellectuals, and academics in raising awareness, social advocacy, and positive social change.
Youth, Education, and Society
Focusing on young people as agents of social change; examining challenges related to education, unemployment, social despair, and pathways for meaningful youth participation.
ASA Manifesto
Founders’ views
Sayed Nooroddin Alavi
For me, sociology is not merely the study of social structures and relationships. It is both an inner and outer journey an attempt to understand the depth of human suffering, to uncover the hidden dimensions of domination, and to search for the possibilities of liberation. I come from a society where violence, discrimination, and denial are deeply woven into the warp and weft of everyday life where the voices of the marginalized are often silenced in the uproar of global power struggles.
Omid Afghan
Sociology begins at the moment we dare to think beyond appearances, when we learn to recognise the hidden structures of power, inequality, and meaning woven into the fabric of everyday life. It reminds us that no experience is purely individual; every pain and every hope reflects wider social relations that constrain or enable us. Through deep questioning, ethical sensitivity, and an emancipatory vision, sociology reopens the world before us not only as it is, but as it could, and ought, to be.
Ahmad Hamid Qaderi
I view sociology not merely as an academic discipline but as a powerful tool for social empowerment and cultural transformation. This perspective emerges from a deliberate integration of critical, applied, and human-centered approaches. Within this framework, sociology proves especially effective in addressing issues such as migration, social integration, inclusive education, and the reconstruction of identity in multicultural societies.