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Home > Open Access Journals > JSS > Vol. 18 > Afghanistan

 

Author Biography

Arash Beidollahkhani holds a Ph.D. in Political Science and is a Research Fellow at the Global Development Institute, University of Manchester. His research interests include Middle Eastern politics and society, as well as the political sociology of non-democratic and authoritarian regimes in the Middle East and Central Asia. He is also a Research Fellow at the Hannah Arendt Institute for Totalitarianism Studies at TU Dresden

Edriss Rasa is a PhD candidate in Political Science at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran. He is an Afghan analyst and human rights activist with expertise in Afghanistan and Central Asian politics and foreign policy. Edris previously worked with human rights organizations in Afghanistan during the Republic era and is currently teaching at several universities in Afghanistan. His academic and professional work focuses on political sociology, human rights, and foreign relations in the region.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5038/1944-0472.18.2.2400

Subject Area Keywords

Afghanistan, Conflict studies, Political violence, Security studies, Taliban

Abstract

The collapse of the Afghan government in 2021 and the subsequent return of the Taliban marked a significant shift in contemporary geopolitics. This paper examines the political and social dynamics surrounding the U.S. and allied forces' withdrawal, focusing on the entropic forces that contributed to the breakdown of Afghanistan’s governance system. While Afghanistan has experienced recurrent governmental collapses, the post-2021 crisis highlights deeper structural challenges within both the geopolitical and domestic spheres. The research investigates the failure of the U.S.-backed Afghan government, established through two decades of nation-building efforts, and explores how the abrupt foreign withdrawal dismantled fragile political structures, facilitating the rise of authoritarian rule. It critically analyzes the inefficiencies in governance and strategic mismanagement that led to the country’s geopolitical destabilization, contributing to the resurgence of military conflict and the suppression of civil movements. Employing an analytical approach grounded in a comprehensive systemic methodology, this study identifies the key factors behind Afghanistan’s reversion to despotic rule.

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