Talk by Sharif Hozoori (Government, Cornell University)

Legitimacy is essential for all political regimes, whether democratic or authoritarian. This has been true for various authoritarian regimes throughout Afghanistan’s modern history and for the current Taliban regime as well. In this study, I focus on Afghanistan and the Taliban as a case study to examine how the group constructs its legitimacy.

The paper begins by outlining the theoretical framework, followed by a historical review of political legitimacy in Afghanistan. It then examines whether the Taliban regime is authoritarian, analyzes its strategy for constructing legitimacy, and explores the challenges facing its legitimation process. Finally, the paper concludes with key findings.

Sharif Hozoori holds a Ph.D. in International Relations from the Centre for International Politics, Organization and Disarmament (CIPOD), School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Before the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, he served as a professor of International Relations, teaching undergraduate and graduate students in Afghanistan. He is currently a Visiting Lecturer in the Department of Government at Cornell University. His research focuses on the politics of Central Asia, Afghanistan’s domestic politics and foreign policy, and identity politics.

This event is part of the “Something Going Wrong with the Bomb”: Rethinking Nuclear Weapons and Global Security conference, taking place on September 17, 2026.

Eighty years after the devastating atomic bombings that ushered in the nuclear age, BOMBSHELL explores how the U.S. government manipulated the narrative about the atomic bombings of the Japanese cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Through propaganda, censorship and the co-opting of the press, the government presented a benevolent picture of atomic power, minimizing the horrific human toll of the bombings.

Written and directed by Ben Loeterman, produced by Loeterman and Gaia De Simoni, executive produced by Cameo George, and narrated by Ann Curry, BOMBSHELL sheds light on the efforts of a group of intrepid reporters to let the world know the truth.

Host
Reppy Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies, part of the Einaudi Center for International Studies

Co-host
Cornell Cinema

Co-sponsor
Department of Government

Go global in summer 2027! Global Internships give you valuable international work experience in fields spanning global development, climate and sustainability, international relations, communication, business, governance, and more.

Applications are open now.

Can’t attend? Contact programs@einaudi.cornell.edu.

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The Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies hosts info sessions for graduate and for undergraduate students to learn more about funding opportunities, international travel, research, and internships. View the full calendar of fall semester sessions.

Go global in summer 2027! Global Internships give you valuable international work experience in fields spanning global development, climate and sustainability, international relations, communication, business, governance, and more.

Applications are open now.

Can’t attend? Contact programs@einaudi.cornell.edu.

***

The Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies hosts info sessions for graduate and for undergraduate students to learn more about funding opportunities, international travel, research, and internships. View the full calendar of fall semester sessions.

Go global in summer 2027! Global Internships give you valuable international work experience in fields spanning global development, climate and sustainability, international relations, communication, business, governance, and more.

Applications are open now.

Can’t attend? Contact programs@einaudi.cornell.edu.

***

The Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies hosts info sessions for graduate and for undergraduate students to learn more about funding opportunities, international travel, research, and internships. View the full calendar of fall semester sessions.

Join us on for an informative and engaging info session to learn more about the Institute for African Development and the Latin American and Caribbean Studies programs. This session will provide an overview of academic offerings, events, faculty expertise, research opportunities, and other student support services.

Can’t attend? Contact iad@einaudi.cornell.edu or lacs@einaudi.cornell.edu to learn more.

***

The Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies hosts info sessions for graduate and for undergraduate students to learn more about funding opportunities, international travel, research, and internships. View the full calendar of fall semester sessions.

Global politics are undergoing a radical rupture. The post-WWII rules-based international order, which prohibits most uses of military force, provides collective security, and respects human rights, has always been imperfect. But today several prominent governments appear to be explicitly repudiating these norms. Wars in Ukraine and the Middle East suggest that great powers like Russia and the United States are seeking power primarily through military force and economic coercion rather than through incentives or persuasion. Middle powers such as Canada have responded by calling for new coalitions and strategies to counter aggression. What will these changes mean for the future of war and peace? In this panel, four distinguished scholars with regional expertise in Africa, East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Europe will discuss different visions for the future of international order, with a focus on prospects for developing non-violent means of resolving conflict.

Panelists
Amitav Acharya, American University
Oumar Ba, Cornell University
Kyoko Imai, Indo-Pacific Security Initiative, Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security
Alexander Lanoszka, University of Waterloo

Moderator
Rebecca Slayton, Cornell University

Host
Reppy Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies, part of the Einaudi Center for International Studies

Co-sponsors
Einaudi Center for International Studies
Institute for European Studies
East Asia Program
Institute for African Development
Southeast Asia Program