Wali Shaaker

Born in Kabul-Afghanistan, Wali Shaaker is an adjunct policy analyst with RAND Corporation. He has served as an Associate Professor at Defense Language Institute, as a Senior Research Analyst at the Program for Culture and Conflict Studies (PCCS)—Naval Postgraduate School, and as the president of the Society of Afghan Professionals in California. His research interests include US foreign policy in South Asia, state formation and legitimacy, and the role of culture in politics. Shaaker has served as a political consultant for the US Special Forces and the Canadian forces deployed to Afghanistan. He is also a commentator on the Voice of America’s radio and television programs in Washington DC. Wali Shaaker is the author of Democracy’s Dilemma: The Challenges to State Legitimacy in Afghanistan (2008)