JOURNAL ARTICLE

Why Did the Taliban Win?

  • Published In: Armed Forces & Society (Sage Publications Inc.), 2023, v. 49, n. 4. P. 923 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: King, Anthony 3 of 3

Abstract

This article analyzes the reasons behind the United States' defeat in Afghanistan after nearly 20 years of military intervention, culminating in the Taliban's rapid victory in August 2021. It identifies three principal factors: the challenging Afghan environment, the West's failure to understand and engage with Afghanistan's complex, decentralized patrimonial political system dominated by warlords, and the Taliban's political resilience and external support from Pakistan and Iran. The U.S. and its allies pursued a state-centric strategy focused on building a centralized Afghan government, which conflicted with local realities and ultimately undermined their efforts. The Taliban, despite internal divisions, maintained cohesion and popular support at the local level, enabling their eventual triumph.

Additional Information

  • Source:Armed Forces & Society (Sage Publications Inc.). 2023/10, Vol. 49, Issue 4, p923
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Ethnic and Cultural Studies
  • Publication Date:2023
  • ISSN:0095-327X
  • DOI:10.1177/0095327X221096702
  • Accession Number:171373925
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of Armed Forces & Society (Sage Publications Inc.) is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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