Think Talk:Weaponizing Civilian Protection: Counterinsurgency and Collateral Damage in Afghanistan
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Tue 03 Jun
- $5.00 incl. GST
Please note there is NO refund or transfer if you cancel less than 5 working days in advance of a class starting. Our refund policy can be read in full here.
Description
Think Talk: Weaponizing Civilian Protection: Counterinsurgency and Collateral Damage in Afghanistan
Tuesday 3 June 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM
This presentation will examine coalition attitudes towards civilian harm during the conflict in Afghanistan. Drawing on declassified documents and interviews with coalition officials, it will trace how civilian protection was reimagined as a martial tactic rather than a humanitarian imperative, with coalition officials reframing civilian casualties as strategic setbacks that could imperil the overarching mission. Whilst this encouraged the coalition to introduce measures aimed at minimizing civilian casualties and mitigating their impact on mission success, Thomas will argue that these measures also worked to rationalize the harm inflicted upon the civilian population. Despite the apparent interesting in protecting civilians, he will show that Afghan lives remained eminently losable in the struggle against insurgents.
About Dr Thomas Gregory, Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations, University of Auckland
Thomas's research examines violence against civilians in contemporary conflict, with a specific focus on how civilians are constituted as killable, how civilian casualties are counted, and how civilian casualties are legitimized, rationalized, or excused. He is the author of Weaponizing Civilian Protection: Counterinsurgency and Collateral Damage in Afghanistan, which was published by Oxford University Press in 2025. His research has also appeared in leading academic journals, including International Political Sociology, Review of International Studies, and the European Journal of International Relations.
Please register for this talk so we can plan seating for the expected numbers. A small donation on arrival at the door is appreciated.
