Founded so that we learn the right lessons from our 20 years of engagement in Afghanistan.

The Afghanistan Research Lab (ARL), based at William & Mary, is a research center where Professor Rani D. Mullen and senior students collaborate to produce cutting-edge research on Afghanistan. ARL publishes policy-relevant research focused on Afghanistan’s recent past and current challenges. We present research and policy recommendations to address critical issues ranging from democracy and governance to regional and international relations. The overall purpose of ARL is to ensure that we learn the right lessons from the 20 years of American engagement in Afghanistan.

Fast Facts

1. Afghanistan remained the world's only Gender Apartheid country, where the Taliban government is systematically committing human rights violations against women. This has led Australia, Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands to announce plans in October 2024 to file a case against the Taliban for gender apartheid at the International Court of Justice.

2. In 2022, Afghanistan received $3.83 billion in humanitarian funding. By 2024, that number fell to $602.8 million.

3. Since the Taliban takeover in 2021, sectors of the Afghan economy have "basically collapsed," leading to a 27% contraction in the economy.

4. Afghanistan is deemed “Not Free” according to Freedom in the World 2024. Afghanistan received a score of 1/40 in Political Rights, and 5/60 in Civil Liberties.

5. An estimated 3.5 million Afghans are internally displaced in the country, a number that is likely rising under the Taliban.

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