Save the Date

We are pleased to announce the sixth session of the Berlin Forum for Afghanistan (BFA), taking place on Friday, June 20, 2025. This hybrid event—held in person and via Zoom—is organized in collaboration with the Center for Communication for Social Change at the University of Leipzig. Under the theme “Between Kabul and Berlin: Digital Communication

Meet our Panel Participants

At our upcoming Event in Berlin “Scholarship in Diaspora”, we are proud to present a distinguished panel that will address the challenges and opportunities faced by scholars from Aghanistan in exile.The panel brings together:• Dr. Sonja Wimschulte, Programme Director for Exile at the Körber Foundation• Dr. Cora Schaffert-Ziegenbalg, representative of the Volkswagen Foundation• Dr. Hazrat

Leipzig University at the Symposium on Exile Journalism Research

Dr. Hazrat Bahar and Hamid Obaidi from the Institute for Communication and Media Studies represented Leipzig University at the Körber Stiftung Symposium on Exile Journalism Research on 20 May 2025 in Hamburg. Their joint presentation, “Data Collection in Exile Journalism: Afghan Journalists Post-2021 Taliban Takeover,” explored the methodological and ethical challenges of researching Afghan media

Scholarship in Diaspora: Panel Discussion

At our upcoming Advocacy Event in Berlin, a diverse panel will explore how the expertise of Scholars from Afghanistan in exile can be better recognized and integrated into the German academic landscape.Together with representatives from academic policy, foundations, and universities, we’ll discuss key questions around knowledge utilization, structural barriers, sustainable funding, and necessary political frameworks.The

Scholarship in Diaspora

Afghan scholars in the diaspora have contributed to knowledge production across various fields. For the first time, the Institute for Communication and Media Studies at Leipzig University is hosting a scholarly dialogue focused on Afghanistan-related research. The event will explore the challenges and opportunities of academic work in exile and feature presentations of recent studies.

THE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF AFGHANISTAN’S ONLINE PUBLIC SPHERE

Abumoslem Khorasani and Mariam Meetra This study seeks to conceptualize the structure and dynamics of Afghanistan’s online public sphere, focusing on the social media platforms Twitter-X, Facebook, and Instagram. In light of technological advances, the proliferation of social media, the widespread migration of political and social elites, the strict regulations of the Taliban regime, and

Good News: Abstract Submission Deadline Extended!

You still have time to submit your abstract for our upcoming conference in October: 
”Transnationalization Begins at Home – Unseen Dynamics in Public Communication”New deadline for abstract submission: 16 June 2025Submit your abstracts to: kontakt@transfertage-ec4sc.deDon’t miss your chance to be part of this important conversation!Find more info on our website: https://transfertage-ec4sc.de

Guest Speaker Highlight: Dr. Merga Yonas Bula

This semester, we had the pleasure of welcoming Dr. Merga Yonas Bula to our seminar. Together with our students, he explored two timely and thought-provoking topics on digital diasporas and transnational communication: A big thank-you to Dr. Yonas for his insightful contributions and engaging discussions!

SCHOLARSHIP IN DIASPORA

11 July 2025 | 17:00–20:00 | Global Village Berlin How can scholars in exile contribute their expertise and help shapesociety? What opportunities and challenges arise from knowledgeproduced in diaspora contexts? On 11 July 2025, we invite selected guests to join us at GlobalVillage Berlin for an evening of discussion on the potential of exiledand diaspora

COMMUNICATION AND PUBLIC SPHERE IN FRAGILE STATES: A TRANSFOMATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAM USING THE EXAMPLE OF AFGHANISTAN

Dr Kefa Hamidi (With input from Dr Hazrat Bahar) The programmatic paper presents an innovative programme at Leipzig University that integrates six exiled scholars from Afghanistan into research, teaching and transfer. The programme focuses on investigating the Afghan media system and public communication spaces in fragile states. The programme is based at the Centre for