Research
You will find a complete range of our monographs, muti-authored and edited works including peer-reviewed, original scholarly research across the social sciences and aligned disciplines. We publish long and short form research and you can browse the complete Bristol University Press and Policy Press archive of over 1,500 titles.
Policy Press also publishes policy reviews and polemic work which aim to challenge policy and practice in certain fields. These books have a practitioner in mind and are practical, accessible in style, as well as being academically sound and referenced.
This chapter focuses on Afghanistan’s tumultuous transition from a decolonized entity to an independent state, embroiled in internal and external normative conflicts. This analysis spotlights the 1929 coup and the enduring battle between traditional Islamic norms and attempts to impose European modernity, underscoring the multifaceted nature of Afghanistan’s 20th-century experience, far removed from linear narratives of development and modernization. The chapter intricately explores Afghanistan’s interactions with the global international system, particularly with the European Union and its predecessors, tracing the evolution of relationships from trade and aid to a more complex engagement influenced by humanitarian concerns. This is contextualized within the broader narrative of Afghanistan’s struggle with modernization, sovereignty and the impacts of Cold War dynamics, including the significant role of external powers in shaping its domestic and foreign policies.
In the endeavour to elucidate the reasons behind the European Union’s (EU) policy failures in Afghanistan, this research has ventured beyond conventional International Relations theories, challenging prevailing notions entrenched in presentism, ahistoricism, Eurocentrism and state-centrism. By embracing methodological pluralism and drawing on the theoretical frameworks of Buzan and Little, alongside the sociological insights of Elder-Vass, this study underscores the indispensability of historical context in understanding international relations. It hopes to illuminate the critical role of norm circles, norms and practices in shaping the sociopolitical landscape, thereby providing a nuanced understanding of the complex interplay between Afghanistan’s rich historical tapestry and contemporary global politics. This approach not only offers a rigorous critique of the EU’s external action but undertakes a comprehensive exploration of the complex relationship between Afghanistan and the EU.
This chapter highlights the European Union (EU)’s limitations in contributing to security and peace in Afghanistan. Despite evolving engagements and responsibilities, European actions fell short, as detailed through the challenges faced by the European Union Police Mission in Afghanistan and the broader implications of deferred leadership and internal bureaucratic struggles on the peace process and the fight against the resurgence of the Taliban. The chapter critically assesses the EU’s multifaceted role in Afghanistan, from its initial prioritization of transatlantic solidarity and partnership with the Government of Afghanistan to its eventual navigation of complex international relations, all while confronting internal challenges and external pressures.
In this chapter the European Union (EU)’s state-building endeavours are outlined, demonstrating the contextual dissonance that emerged as EU strategy demonstrated misalignments and oversight failures. The analysis demonstrates the adverse effects of attempting to transplant Western models onto Afghan soil, amidst a corruption eruption and the resultant deep-seated issues undermining international efforts and Afghan governance. The chapter underscores the necessity of a nuanced understanding of local contexts and historical dynamics in international state-building efforts, criticizing the oversimplified approaches that overlooked Afghanistan’s deep-seated norms and the multifaceted nature of corruption. It serves as a reflective analysis on the EU’s role in Afghanistan, offering vital lessons for future international engagements in complex, post-conflict state-building scenarios.
This chapter outlines the gradual resurgence of the Taliban, attributed to the Afghan government’s legitimacy crisis, systemic corruption and inability to ensure security and political stability. The flawed 2019 presidential election, marked by historically low voter turnout, underscored the diminishing trust in the electoral process and governance structures. The subsequent US decision to withdraw troops, amidst an already tumultuous political landscape, exacerbated the situation, leading to a swift and largely unanticipated Taliban takeover. This has left dire consequences. The Taliban’s return to power should lead to a period of introspection and evaluation of EU external actions. This chapter confronts the grim realities of human rights rollbacks, economic crises, and the broader geopolitical implications for EU policy making and strategic autonomy in the global international system.
This introductory chapter sets the stage for exploring the complex and multifaceted relationship between the European Union and Afghanistan. It provides a brief overview of the book’s structure, scope and objectives, emphasizing the importance of understanding the nuances of this relationship in a rapidly changing geopolitical context.
This chapter unveils the EU’s oversight of Afghanistan’s intricate historical and normative landscape, emphasizing the disparity between European conceptual frameworks and Afghan realities. This chapter establishes the foundation by elucidating how the EU’s ahistorical and Eurocentric stance, coupled with a commitment to normative power, failed to accommodate the diverse norms emerging from Afghanistan’s historical interactions, both internally and with external powers. To establish this, a think contextualization of Afghanistan through three phases of world history is set out, and the development of complex norms is demonstrated. By revisiting and centralizing Afghanistan’s rich historical narrative within the broader international system, the chapter advocates for a departure from Eurocentric policies towards a more inclusive understanding that acknowledges the complexities and resilience of Afghan society. Through a detailed examination of Afghanistan’s place in world history – from its pre-international systems and formation of international systems to the modern global international system – the chapter underscores the importance of recognizing Afghanistan’s active role and agency in shaping its destiny amidst the shifting dynamics of global power structures.
This chapter delves into the EU’s strategic and operational missteps post-11 September 2001, detailing how initial solidarity with the United States (US) morphed into a scenario of marginalization and misaligned strategies, exacerbating the challenges in state-building and peace processes. This chapter critically evaluates the consequences of the EU’s actions and inactions within the broader geopolitical dynamics and internal complexities of Afghanistan. The analysis investigates the ramifications of the Bonn Agreement and the international community’s failure to establish a comprehensive peace process, which inadvertently empowered warlords and entrenched neopatrimonial norms. This misstep is framed as a critical oversight, which neglected the complex sociopolitical fabric of Afghanistan and exacerbated the challenges of state-building. The chapter also explores the impact of the Iraq War on the transatlantic relationship and the broader international strategy towards Afghanistan. The US’s diversion of attention and resources to Iraq is critiqued for undermining the efforts in Afghanistan and contributing to the resurgence of the Taliban. The EU’s inability to adapt its strategy in light of these developments is highlighted as a missed opportunity to assert a more autonomous and coherent approach.
The return of the Taliban has undermined EU external action, reversed twenty years of state-building efforts and represents the most significant failure of EU foreign policy to date.
Drawing on over 100 hours of interviews with key actors and an in-depth examination of the EU’s state-building efforts, this book offers unparalleled insights into the complex interplay between transatlantic relations and the resurgence of the Taliban. It critically evaluates the EU's strategies, advocating for a nuanced, historically informed approach to international relations.
Indispensable for academics, policy makers and anyone vested in the intricacies of foreign interventions in an ever-complex global environment.
Over recent decades, LGBTQ people have successfully fought for civil and reproductive rights across Western states, including the right to marry, have children and serve openly as public servants and in the armed forces. Internationally, states have started to use their stance on homonormativity to position themselves as progressive.
This book provides new insights into the role played by race, sexuality, and gender by analysing contemporary constructions of Swedishness through LGBTQ rights by using three specific case studies:
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A ‘pride parade’ organised by the Swedish populist right
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Swedish Armed Forces’ marketing material
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A social media account by and for racialised LGBTQ people.
