Public Lecture on the Relationship between Irrigation and Insurgency in Afghanistan
On 07 December 2023, Pengshan Pan, an Associate Research Fellow at the OSCE Academy and a doctoral candidate at the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh, delivered a public lecture on ‘Irrigation and Insurgency: Can Public Infrastructure Mitigate Climate-Induced Conflict in Afghanistan?’ Pengshan Pan examined the role of public irrigation infrastructure in mitigating climate-induced conflicts in Afghanistan, focusing on individual engagement with armed groups. Furthermore, he analyzed the differentiated effectiveness of various irrigation systems in addressing water-related conflicts. Large-scale, externally aided irrigation projects, such as river dams and canals, may be inadequate in dissuading individuals from participating in armed conflict. In contrast, locally driven, community-based irrigation practices, exemplified by kariz systems, demonstrate promise in alleviating climate-related stressors and reducing the intensity of conflicts.
