Branches

Vision and Purpose

The Afghanistan Sociological Association (ASA) is committed to building a nationwide and transnational academic network by establishing regional and international branches. These branches will serve as local hubs for advancing sociological thought, facilitating field-based research, promoting dialogue, and strengthening collaboration between academia and civil society.

By rooting sociological engagement in diverse contexts—from urban centers to remote provinces—ASA aims to decentralize knowledge production, amplify underrepresented voices, and create regionally grounded yet globally connected spaces for critical inquiry.

 Objectives of ASA Branches

Each branch will operate semi-autonomously under the ASA umbrella, aligning its activities with the Association’s core mission. Key objectives include:

  • Extending academic, research, and training initiatives to local and regional levels
  • Fostering collaboration among universities, research centers, NGOs, and grassroots organizations
  • Identifying and supporting emerging scholars, especially among youth and marginalized communities
  • Facilitating localized field data collection for national research projects
  • Promoting sociological literacy, critical thinking, and public engagement through accessible programming
 Types of Branches

ASA envisions two primary types of branches:
 
1. Local/ Provincial Branches (within Afghanistan):
Based in major cities and university towns (e.g., Kabul, Herat, Mazar-e-Sharif, Bamyan, Badakhshan, Kandahar)
Engaged in regional issues, community outreach, and university partnerships
 
2. International/ Regional Diaspora Branches:
Established in countries with significant Afghan academic or intellectual communities (e.g., Iran, Pakistan, Turkey, Germany, France, USA)
Serve as bridges between Afghan and international sociological discours
Support displaced and exiled researchers and students

Call for Collaboration

We invite scholars, educators, graduate students, and social researchers to join us in shaping ASA’s branch network.
 
If you are interested in establishing a branch in your university, city, or country—or would like to propose a partnership—please contact our coordination team.
 
Contact Email: info@afghanistansociology.org

What’s Next?

ASA’s Strategic Development Team is currently drafting the official Branch Guidelines and Governance Framework, which will include:

  • Criteria for branch formation
  • Roles and responsibilities of branch coordinators
  • Reporting structures and annual review processes
  • Support mechanisms for funding, training, and networking
  • More details will be published here soon. Stay tuned as we build a more inclusive, decentralized, and impactful sociological community.