Dr. Aamer Raza

Designation and Administrative Responsibilities

Associate Professor
Head of Afghan Studies Cell

Aamer Raza is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Peshawar. He earned a master’s degree in Political Science from the University of Peshawar and his M. Phil in International Relations from Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad. In 2019, he completed his PhD at the University of Massachusetts Boston, where he studied as a Fulbright scholar. During his stay in the US, Dr Aamer was able to attend courses at Harvard, Tufts University, and the University of Kentucky. 

Dr. Raza’s research and academic interests include religious politics in Pakistan, countering violent extremism, regional security dynamics, and foreign policies in the Af-Pak region. Dr AAMER has an extensive research publication record, including research articles, book chapters and two reports. He has also conducted on-ground research on understanding the roots of violent extremism in the region. He also contributes regularly to The News International on these and other topics. He has also made appearances on electronic media. He is currently working on multiple research projects.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

02/2007 – Present

Assistant Professor in Political Science | University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan

  • A permanent faculty position involving teaching, curriculum-design and occasional administrative responsibilities.
  • Supervises PhD, M.Phil. and BS theses.
  • Organizes national and international conferences
  • Remained on study leave during 2014-2019 to pursue my PhD.

EDUCATION

09/2014 – 04/2019

University of Massachusetts | Boston, United States

PhD (FULBRIGHT): Global Governance and Human Security

Supervisor: Professor J. Samuel Barkin

Thesis Title: THE EFFECTS OF ISSUE AREA GOVERNANCE OVERLAP ON THE INSTITUTIONS OF MULTILATERAL COUNTERTERRORISM COOPERATION

09/2005 – 07/2008

Quaid-i-Azam University | Islamabad, Pakistan

M.Phil. International Relations

Thesis Title: The Rise of Islamic Fundamentalism: Quest for Identity or Clash of Civilizations?

09/2002 – 08/2004

University of Peshawar| Peshawar, Pakistan

MA Political Science

Trainings Conducted:

I have been a regular trainer with both public and private organizations, including National Institute of Management, IRCRA, Shaoor Foundation, CRSS and PEF. I have conducted trainings for political cadre, local government functionaries, and for religious scholars and Ulema.

  • Trainer for Ulasi Taroon (Social Cohesion) Project by Centre for Research and Security Studies (2019-2022)
  • Lead Trainer for Political Cadre Development Program (PCDP) Conducted by Shaoor Foundation to train district level officer bearers of political parties on basic governance concepts, especially devolution and women political participation (August-November 2022)
  • Trainer for UNICEF funded local government training in CRVS Program for local councillors and secretaries of Union Councils
  • Trainer for CRA-North funded and IRCRA-led training workshop for Community leaders on Peace Building and Social Cohesion (2022)
  • Trainer for Training workshop for Ulema on Democracy and Islam organized by IRCRA (2020)

ADDITIONAL SKILLS

  • Software: Windows and MAC operating systems; Experience with using Gephi for quantitative network analysis during PhD research. Used Zotero for academic referencing and assistance.
  • Management and Administration: Coordinator of the BS Political Science program during 2012-2014. The program had at least 20 taught courses and more than 300 students.
  • Data Collection and Analysis
  • Teaching, Tutoring and Presenting
  • Ability to effectively communicate in English, Urdu/Hindi, Pashto and Hindko.

PUBLICATIONS

Khan, Muhammad Fahim, Asad Hassan, and Aamer Raza. “Humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan: Changing global dynamics and Pakistan’s policy choices.” Asian Journal of Comparative Politics (2023): 20578911221148520.

Naseer, Noreen, Muhammad Fahim Khan, and Aamer Raza. “A comparative view of India and Pakistan’s defence capabilities: Historical evolution and future trends.” Asian Journal of Comparative Politics (2022): 20578911221124384.

Raza, A. “Gender, Agency and Vulnerability: The Case of Western Muslim Women Joining the ISIS”, Review of Human Rights, 1 (1) 2015.

https://reviewhumanrights.com/index.php/RHR/article/view/72

Raza, A. (2019). Counterinsurgency and Human Security: A Critical analysis of the US Counterinsurgency strategy in Afghanistan and Iraq, 2001-2014. Review of Human Rights, 4(1), 64-80.

https://doi.org/10.35994/rhr.v4i1.93

Raza, A. and Ahmad, R. 2020. Islamic Headscarf Controversy in France. Al-Idah . 38, – 1 (Jun. 2020), 35 – 45.

https://doi.org/10.37556/al-idah.038.01.0611

Raza, A., Shah, W., & Khan, T. (2021). DOMESTIC LEGAL RESPONSES TO TERRORISM: AN ANALYSIS OF PAKISTAN’S COUNTERTERRORISM LEGISLATION THROUGH THE FRAMEWORK OF USLED INTERNATIONAL NORM CREATION. Pakistan Journal of International Affairs, 4(4). http://pjia.com.pk/index.php/pjia/article/view/310

Syed, Z., & Dr Aamer Raza. (2021). CHINA PAKISTAN ECONOMIC CORRIDOR: A WIN-WIN APPROACH IN A ZERO-SUM REGIONAL ENVIRONMENT. Journal of Pakistan-China Studies (JPCS), 2(1), 22–45. https://doi.org/10.55733/jpcs.v2i1.25

Aamer Raza, Muhammad Atif, Muhammad Hussain, Muaaz Sayed. (2021). The War on Terror and US Foreign Policy: The Transition from Obama’s Af-Pak Policy to Trump’s Negotiations with the Taliban. Competitive Education Research Journal, 2(4), 33–40. Retrieved from https://cerjournal.com/index.php/cerjournal/article/view/59

Khan, M. F., Raza, A., & Naseer, N. (2021). CYBER SECURITY AND CHALLENGES FACED BY PAKISTAN. Pakistan Journal of International Affairs, 4(4).

http://pjia.com.pk/index.php/pjia/article/view/408

Imran Khan, Khurshid Alam, Aamer Raza, Zakir Khan. (2022). International Criminal Justice System and its Implementation in Pakistan. Competitive Education Research Journal, 3(1), 323–337. https://cerjournal.com/index.php/cerjournal/article/view/66

Aamer Raza, Sohrab Ahmed Marri, Imran Khan, Muhammad Atif. (2022). Continuity or Change? US Policy Towards Afghanistan Through Presidential Terms (2001-2021). Competitive Education Research Journal, 3(1), 300–309. Retrieved from https://cerjournal.com/index.php/cerjournal/article/view/61

Imran Khan, Aisha Iftikhar, Aamer Raza, Sohrab Ahmed Marri. (2022). Anti-Terrorism Law and Policy in Pakistan. Competitive Education Research Journal, 3(2), 48–63. Retrieved from https://cerjournal.com/index.php/cerjournal/article/view/67

Raza, A. (2020). Coronavirus and the Future of Globalization. Review of Human Rights, 6(1), xxxii-xxxvi. https://doi.org/10.35994/rhr.v6i1.108

Kamran Shahzad and Aamer Raza, A Criminological Study – Security Challenges to Humanitarian Work of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Sindh, Pakistan, Pakistan Journal of Criminology Vol.14, No.1, January-March 2022 (142-155).

http://www.pjcriminology.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/10.-Kamran-Shahzad-Paper.pdf

CONFERENCE PAPERS

  • “Voices of Resistance: Pashto Poetry as Bulwark against Extremism”, Presented in the 2nd International. Conference on The dynamics of Change in Conflict Societies: Pashtun Region in Perspective 24-25 June 2013, Bara Gali Summer Campus, University of Peshawar.
  • “Reflections from the Borderland of Pakistan”, Education Divide Reform Conference, EDR, Cambridge, MA, April 29, 2015.

AWARDS

Fulbright PhD Grant (Included tuition fee, return ticket to Pakistan, health insurance coverage and a monthly stipend) | United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (2014-2019) 

Travel Grant ($1,000) for Presenting in International Studies Association Convention San Francisco, CA | Institute for International Education (April 2018)

Grant (2000 euros) to Attend course “New Media vs. The Traditional Media “, Erfurt University, Germany August 1-14, 2012. | DAAD (August 2012).

CONSULTANCY

  • I regularly conduct sessions and write periodicals for Centre for Research and Security Studies Islamabad on themes related to Countering Violent Extremism and the rule of law.
  • I also lead focus groups and training workshops targeting Religious ulema and Madrassah students, organized by the International Research Council for Religious Affairs
  • I am the lead trainer for Political Cadre Development Programme (PCDP) which is funded by the German organization Hanns Seidel Foundation.
  • Working as a consultant on a UNICEF project, I wrote the manual for the training of Local Government officials in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and subsequently trained local government officials.

 

PRESENTATIONS ON ELECTRONIC AND PRINT MEDIA