Dr Farkhondeh Akbari, Professor Jacqui True
Abstract:
This paper explores the evolving landscape of diplomacy in response to the rise of ‘gender apartheid’ under Taliban rule in Afghanistan. It examines how states across different global regions engage with the Taliban while navigating the tensions between geopolitical interests and normative commitments to women’s human rights, particularly the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda. Using the concept of a “multilevel power game,” the paper proposes a framework for understanding how gender apartheid diplomacy operates across national, regional, and international arenas. It interrogates emerging diplomatic norms and practices in bilateral and multilateral engagements with the Taliban, highlighting how power, interests, and normative claims interact at different levels. Focusing on specific cases, the study analyses the regional and global impacts of various diplomatic strategies and their consequences for women’s rights and security in Afghanistan. By framing diplomacy as a multilevel power game, the paper offers new insights into the challenges and possibilities of advancing gender justice given the Taliban’s gender apartheid rule.