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  • About us
  • Research and Impact
    • Research Areas
    • Research Impact
    • Publications
    • Digital Events & Public Engagement
    • Blogs
    • GFA25
  • Podcasts
    • Taliban Turbans and The Smartphone
    • Mitchell Institute Conversations Podcast
    • The Partition of Ireland: Causes and Consequences
    • Postgraduate MPod Podcast
  • People
    • Academic Staff
    • GRI Fellows
    • Research-Funded Posts
    • Visiting Scholars
    • Professors Emeriti
    • Honorary Professors
    • Honorary Professors of Practice
    • International Advisory Board
  • Study
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    • Previous Scholarships
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In This Section
  • Series 4 - Episode 2
  • Series 4 - Episode 1
  • Series 3 - Episode 9
  • Series 3 - Episode 8
  • Series 3 - Episode 7
  • Series 3 - Episode 6
  • Series 3 - Episode 5
  • Series 3 - Episode 4
  • Series 3 - Episode 3
  • Series 3 - Episode 2
  • Series 3 - Episode 1
  • Series 2 - Episode 15
  • Series 2 - Episode 14
  • Series 2 - Episode 13
  • Series 2 - Episode 12
  • Series 2 - Episode 11
  • Series 2 - Episode 10
  • Series 2 - Episode 9
  • Series 2 - Episode 8
  • Series 2 - Episode 7
  • Series 2 - Episode 6
  • Series 2 - Episode 5
  • Series 2 - Episode 4
  • Series 2 - Episode 3
  • Series 2 - Episode 2
  • Series 2 - Episode 1
  • Series 1 - Episode 6
  • Series 1 - Episode 5
  • Series 1 - Episode 4
  • Series 1 - Episode 3
  • Series 1 - Episode 2
  • Series 1 - Episode 1

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  • Taliban Turbans and The Smartphone
  • Series 3 - Episode 3

Series 3 - Episode 3

Exploring Taliban Political Culture – The Andiwal System or Taliban Comrade Networks

Much of what the Taliban do and how the movement operates can be explained by looking at the Taliban’s distinctive political culture.  This complex political culture, with its origins in both the madrassahs and the tribes of south-western Afghanistan, has helped to make the movement one of the most effective in Afghan history.  The Taliban movement has immunised itself against splits, it guards its secrets well, it has persuaded thousands of its members to make incredible sacrifices for the cause and for decades now the movement has sustained its central myth about an ameer directly inspired by God.  These capabilities are all aspects of the political culture which underpins the movement’s power.

This episode explores an aspect of Taliban political culture, what we refer to as the andiwal system.  This system consists of the informal comrade networks which Taliban commanders used to mobilise fighters during successive stages of their armed struggle.  These networks now constitute an informal power structure operating inside the hierarchy of the Taliban-controlled state.  The episode considers the enduring significance of this andiwal system in understanding the Taliban approach to governance.

Podcast produced by Colm Heatley.

Professor Michael Semple

Professor Michael Semple

Professor Michael Semple works on innovative approaches to peace-making and engagement with militant Islamic movements in Afghanistan and South Asia.

View profile Email Michael

Taliban Turbans and The Smartphone
  • Taliban Turbans and The Smartphone
  • Series 4 - Episode 2
  • Series 4 - Episode 1
  • Series 3 - Episode 9
  • Series 3 - Episode 8
  • Series 3 - Episode 7
  • Series 3 - Episode 6
  • Series 3 - Episode 5
  • Series 3 - Episode 4
  • Series 3 - Episode 3
  • Series 3 - Episode 2
  • Series 3 - Episode 1
  • Series 2 - Episode 15
  • Series 2 - Episode 14
  • Series 2 - Episode 13
  • Series 2 - Episode 12
  • Series 2 - Episode 11
  • Series 2 - Episode 10
  • Series 2 - Episode 9
  • Series 2 - Episode 8
  • Series 2 - Episode 7
  • Series 2 - Episode 6
  • Series 2 - Episode 5
  • Series 2 - Episode 4
  • Series 2 - Episode 3
  • Series 2 - Episode 2
  • Series 2 - Episode 1
  • Series 1 - Episode 6
  • Series 1 - Episode 5
  • Series 1 - Episode 4
  • Series 1 - Episode 3
  • Series 1 - Episode 2
  • Series 1 - Episode 1
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The Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice 

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BT7 1NN

T: +44 (0) 28 9097 3609 / 1346 
E: mitchell.institute@qub.ac.uk

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