Within the framework of urban communication, this thesis attempts to "read" the urban space of West Kabul in Afghanistan, as a social and cultural text in order to understand the social exclusion of the Hazara people, a socially and politically disenfranchised ethnic group who predominantly inhabit that area. Based on data gathered through documentary research and non-participant field observations, this thesis argues that the urban space of West Kabul is the spatial manifestation of a systematic exclusionary process, through which, the Hazara people have been deprived from access to political, economic and cultural resources, services and opportunities. It interprets the city planning, distribution of resources, urbicide, streetscape, architecture and the body as the main sites where the social exclusion of the Hazaras in West Kabul is exercised. This study also provides a discussion about the historical evolution of West Kabul as an ethnic ghetto, as well as the various forms of conflict which led to spatial and social division in Kabul city.

Climate change is taking its toll on Afghanistan. Warming temperatures and decreasing precipitation levels over the last fifty years have led to innumerable weather anomalies causing droughts, floods, unseasonal precipitation, falling ground water tables, desertification, and loss of biodiversity. While it is projected that further change in climatic conditions will take place over the coming decades, the impacts of these environmental stresses on the living conditions and livelihoods of Afghans have already been significant and adverse. Among all population groups, rural communities in Afghanistan are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change due to their strong dependence on agriculture for living. This exploratory research used a qualitative methodology to investigate and document firsthand the vulnerability of the rural communities to climate change impacts in the context of food security in Afghanistan. To this end, three villages in Balkh, Herat, and Nangarhar provinces were studied for their exposure to climate change and the communities’ adaptive capacity to cope with and avert the climate-related stresses. Additional key informant interviews were conducted to learn about similar issues in other rural regions of the country. The study found that climate change has substantially contributed to increased food insecurity in the rural communities throughout Afghanistan over the last two decades and that the rural households are facing real challenges to generate income from agricultural activities while taking desperate measures to cope with and adapt to climatic conditions.

Thesis (M.M.A.S.)--U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, 2007. / Cover title. AD-A475 568. Includes bibliographical references. Also available via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.A.)--Ohio University, August, 2006. / Title from PDF t.p. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M. P. A.)--Texas State University-San Marcos, 2009. / "Spring 2009." Includes bibliographical references (p. 103-114).

Thesis--University of Wisconsin. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 183-195).

Thesis (M.S. in Defense Analysis)--Naval Postgraduate School, June2010. / Thesis Advisor(s): Giordano, Frank R. Second Reader: Wilson, Gregory R. "June 2010." Description based on title screen as viewed on June, 17, 2010. Author(s) subject terms: Pre-Deployment; Training; DMETL; CMETL; Task; Influence; Constraint; Afghanistan. Includes bibliographical references (p. 113-115). Also available in print.

Thesis (M.S. in Defense Analysis)--Naval Postgraduate School, June 2010. / Thesis Advisor(s): Jansen, Erik ; Second Reader: Giordano, Frank. "June 2010." Description based on title screen as viewed on July 15, 2010. Author(s) subject terms: Police expeditionary capacities; counterinsurgency; gendarmeries; paramilitary organizations; executive policing; population centric operations; mathematical modeling; game theory; interagency cooperation; stabilization and reconstruction operations; irregular warfare; security force assistance. Includes bibliographical references (p. 57-58). Also available in print.

Zugl.: Hamburg, Helmut-Schmidt-Univ., Diss., 2009

Thesis (doctoral)--Rechts- und Staatswissenschaftlichen Fakultät der Albert-Ludwigs-Universität zu Freiburg im Breisgau, 1962. / Chiefly in German. Some text in English. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (p. iv-xi).