Dr. Hazrat Bahar is a media and communication scholar, researcher, and educator with extensive experience in journalism, media development, and public policy in Afghanistan. He received his Ph.D. in Media and Communication from Shanghai University, China, where he examined the impact of social media on public policy development in Afghanistan. He also holds a master’s degree in international relations from the International University of Japan and a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Shaikh Zayed University, Afghanistan. Dr. Bahar served as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Leipzig University, Germany, and previously worked as a lecturer and deputy dean at Shaikh Zayed University. His research focuses on media systems, social media, journalism, public diplomacy, and media assistance in fragile and conflict-affected societies. He has published widely in international journals and edited volumes and presented his work at conferences across Europe and Asia.
Publications:
• (2026) The Media System of Afghanistan (2001-2021): Structures, Fragility, and the Limits of Liberalization (manuscript submitted).
• (2026, forthcoming) Media and Its Role in the Past Two Decades in Afghanistan (book chapter), Leipzig University.
• (2025) Book Review: Saad Mohseni with Jenna Krajeski (2024), Radio Free Afghanistan: A Twenty-Year Odyssey for an Independent Voice in Kabul. Global Media Journal. https://doi.org/10.60678/gmj-de.v15i2.350
• (2025) China's Public Diplomacy in Afghanistan: The Role of Media. Center for Social and Economic Progress. https://csep.org/reports/chinas-public-diplomacy-in-afghanistan-the-role-of-media/
• (2025) “Priorities Were Chosen by Donors”: A Critical Review of International Media Assistance in Afghanistan (2001–2021). Global Media Journal. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6146-4958
• (2024) Impacts of Social Media on Public Policy Development in Pre-Taliban Afghanistan. Global Media Journal. https://doi.org/10.60678/gmj-de.v13i2.246
• Ph.D. Thesis: Impact of Social Media on Public Policy Development and Decision-Making in Afghanistan (unpublished).
• (2022) Do Social Media Dismantle Sociocultural Borders? In Dismantling Cultural Borders Through Social Media and Digital Communications. Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-92212-2_7
• (2021) Image of China in Afghan Media. In China and South Asia. Routledge. ISBN: 9781032057958. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9780367855413-15/image-china-afghan-media-hazrat-bahar
• (2021) Afghanistan–Pakistan Relations: What Issues Matter? Kardan Journal of Social Science and Humanities, 4, 1–18. https://kardan.edu.af/data/public/files/KJSSH-4.1-2021-0104072021023108.pdf
• (2020) Social Media and Disinformation in War Propaganda: How the Afghan Government and the Taliban Use Twitter. Media Asia. https://doi.org/10.1080/01296612.2020.1822634
• (2019) Representation of China in the Global Discourse. Cross-Cultural Communication, 15(2), 19–24. DOI: 10.3968/10830. (Co-author)
• (2019) Media Feasibility Study for DW Akademie (DWA) in Afghanistan: Exploring Opportunities for Future Engagement. (Co-author)
• (2018) Media Landscape of Afghanistan: Disinformation on an Online Platform. Conference Proceedings, International Conference on China and South Asia, Shanghai University, China, 24–25 November 2018.
