ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the complexity of humanitarian negotiations in authoritarian settings using the case study of Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover in August 2021. Humanitarian negotiations in Afghanistan involve a range of actors, including humanitarian organisations, the Taliban as the de facto regime resting on top of the previous government institutions, and local communities that occur at different levels – macro, meso, and micro across different social and cultural dimensions. The analysis draws on a comprehensive literature review and informal conversations with humanitarian actors working in the country as well as with people who have received assistance in Afghanistan. The authors ultimately provide a reflective piece on the tough negotiations and renegotiations in Afghanistan with the Taliban, who are without political recognition yet control the country and have discriminatory policies against women and minorities, which created enormous challenges.
