Building a Network for Successful Peace Negotiations in Afghanistan: Social Network Analysis of the Afghan Peace Process

The ongoing Afghan peace process, which officially started with the signing of the Doha Agreement between the United States and the Taliban in February 2020, involves a complex network of actors. This study leverages social network analysis (SNA) to draw insights from original data on bilateral and multilateral meetings of central actors involved in the negotiations. The report explores influential actors, the relationships among these actors, their stakes in the peace process, the evolving nature of such engagements, and the long-term implications of network activity on the prospects for a successful peace process.It concludes with several recommendations that can be helpful to the negotiating team, practitioners, and policymakers and that are meant to support an inclusive and successful peace process.