The United States Decision In Afghanistan: Issues In Global Hegemonic Power Play

By Roland Uwakwe Chukwudi, Esq

Guns, tanks, light weapons, Jets, RPGs, SAM Missile and a huge
power control have fallen into the hands of the Taliban. Few hours
ago they killed an innocent Afghan woman for not covering her face
even when her heir was fully covered; thousands of Afghan citizens
are looking for every means to escape the horrors that will befall
that territory in the coming days.

It is the view of this writer that the American government,
including the allied forces took a wrong decision in withdrawing
her troops and leaving the Afghans in the hands of the brutal
Taliban forces. Two, International Relations theories shall be used
to support this position, which is:

1. Hegemonic Stability Theory, and

2. The Democratic Peace Theory

Hegemonic Stability Theory -indicates that the international
system is likely to remain stable when a single State is the
dominate world power or hegemon- thus, the end of hegemony
diminishes the stability of the international system.

Democratic Peace Theory on the other hand, posits that
democracies are hesitant to engage in armed conflict with other
identified democracies. This is not to say that democratic nations
barely go to war but that they hardly go to war with fellow
democracies, hence the more democratic nations become, the more the
world system experiences peace.

HISTORY

The US involvement in the Afghan crisis started in 2001, the US
was responding to the 9/11 attacks in New York and Washington in
which over 3,000 persons were killed- officials identified Islamic
militants group Al-Qaeda and its leader Osama Bin Laden, as
responsible . Bin Laden was in Afghanistan, under the protection of
the Taliban, the Islamists who had been in power since 1996- when
they refused to hand him over, the US intervened militarily by
removing the Taliban and vowing to support democratic
administration to eliminate the terrorist threats. NATO allies
joined the US and a new Afghan government took over power in 2004,
this did not stop the Taliban attacks. President Barrack Obama’s
troop surges in 2009 helped push back the Taliban; however, this
victory did not last for a long time.

Surprisingly, in 2014, at the end of what is tagged bloodies
year since 2001, NATO’s international forces ended their combat
mission, leaving the responsibility for security to the Afghan
army, that gave the Taliban momentum and they seized more
territories. Peace talks between the US and the Taliban started
tentatively, with the Afghan government pretty much uninvolved and
the agreement on a withdrawal came in February 2020 in Qatar.

EMERGING ISSUES

The Taliban have gained a reputation for brutality and
enforcement of harsh brand of Islamic justice. The ousted Afghan
government was allegedly accused of been fantastically corrupt,
thus they could not manage the instability in the country. However,
the US government could have recognized the fact that the worst
form of democratic government is a thousand times better than an
ideologically induced rebel organization.

A Taliban regime could again become a safe haven for extremists
and sponsorship of terrorism unimaginable across the world. This
will also harm the fight against human rights abuses.

The current happenings will ultimately challenge the US singular
super power status and lead to a struggle for a balance of power in
the international system.

Again at the balance of power game play, China could gain a
foot-hold in the region. This is because in recent weeks, top
Taliban leaders have been on a whirlwind international tour
visiting Iran, Russia and China. China has reportedly promised big
investments in energy and infrastructure, including the building of
a road network in Afghanistan and is also eyeing the country’s
vast, untapped rare earth mineral deposits. The Taliban see China
as a source of international legitimacy and a potential economic
supporter in the means of influence over Pakistan.

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS

Since the end of the cold war and the disintegration of the
Soviet Union in 1989, the United States government has managed the
global system as a singular super power. She has also continued to
export democracy and capitalism as a framework for development;
these have led to some sort of relative peace in the international
system. Thus, she ought to have continued to play that role- the
role of policing the planet earth. Her decision to leave Afghan may
eventually be counter-productive as there are emerging signs that
the Taliban will fight western civilization. Again, US tussle with
emerging global powers like China and Russia may lead to the
alteration of the balance of power.

Roland Uwakwe Chukwudi, Esq., M.Sc International Relations
(UNIABUJA), rolanduwakwe@gmail.com

By Roland Uwakwe Chukwudi, Esq

Guns, tanks, light weapons, Jets, RPGs, SAM Missile and a huge
power control have fallen into the hands of the Taliban. Few hours
ago they killed an innocent Afghan woman for not covering her face
even when her heir was fully covered; thousands of Afghan citizens
are looking for every means to escape the horrors that will befall
that territory in the coming days.

It is the view of this writer that the American government,
including the allied forces took a wrong decision in withdrawing
her troops and leaving the Afghans in the hands of the brutal
Taliban forces. Two, International Relations theories shall be used
to support this position, which is:

1. Hegemonic Stability Theory, and

2. The Democratic Peace Theory

Hegemonic Stability Theory -indicates that the international
system is likely to remain stable when a single State is the
dominate world power or hegemon- thus, the end of hegemony
diminishes the stability of the international system.

Democratic Peace Theory on the other hand, posits that
democracies are hesitant to engage in armed conflict with other
identified democracies. This is not to say that democratic nations
barely go to war but that they hardly go to war with fellow
democracies, hence the more democratic nations become, the more the
world system experiences peace.

HISTORY

The US involvement in the Afghan crisis started in 2001, the US
was responding to the 9/11 attacks in New York and Washington in
which over 3,000 persons were killed- officials identified Islamic
militants group Al-Qaeda and its leader Osama Bin Laden, as
responsible . Bin Laden was in Afghanistan, under the protection of
the Taliban, the Islamists who had been in power since 1996- when
they refused to hand him over, the US intervened militarily by
removing the Taliban and vowing to support democratic
administration to eliminate the terrorist threats. NATO allies
joined the US and a new Afghan government took over power in 2004,
this did not stop the Taliban attacks. President Barrack Obama’s
troop surges in 2009 helped push back the Taliban; however, this
victory did not last for a long time.

Surprisingly, in 2014, at the end of what is tagged bloodies
year since 2001, NATO’s international forces ended their combat
mission, leaving the responsibility for security to the Afghan
army, that gave the Taliban momentum and they seized more
territories. Peace talks between the US and the Taliban started
tentatively, with the Afghan government pretty much uninvolved and
the agreement on a withdrawal came in February 2020 in Qatar.

EMERGING ISSUES

The Taliban have gained a reputation for brutality and
enforcement of harsh brand of Islamic justice. The ousted Afghan
government was allegedly accused of been fantastically corrupt,
thus they could not manage the instability in the country. However,
the US government could have recognized the fact that the worst
form of democratic government is a thousand times better than an
ideologically induced rebel organization.

A Taliban regime could again become a safe haven for extremists
and sponsorship of terrorism unimaginable across the world. This
will also harm the fight against human rights abuses.

The current happenings will ultimately challenge the US singular
super power status and lead to a struggle for a balance of power in
the international system.

Again at the balance of power game play, China could gain a
foot-hold in the region. This is because in recent weeks, top
Taliban leaders have been on a whirlwind international tour
visiting Iran, Russia and China. China has reportedly promised big
investments in energy and infrastructure, including the building of
a road network in Afghanistan and is also eyeing the country’s
vast, untapped rare earth mineral deposits. The Taliban see China
as a source of international legitimacy and a potential economic
supporter in the means of influence over Pakistan.

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS

Since the end of the cold war and the disintegration of the
Soviet Union in 1989, the United States government has managed the
global system as a singular super power. She has also continued to
export democracy and capitalism as a framework for development;
these have led to some sort of relative peace in the international
system. Thus, she ought to have continued to play that role- the
role of policing the planet earth. Her decision to leave Afghan may
eventually be counter-productive as there are emerging signs that
the Taliban will fight western civilization. Again, US tussle with
emerging global powers like China and Russia may lead to the
alteration of the balance of power.

Roland Uwakwe Chukwudi, Esq., M.Sc International Relations
(UNIABUJA), rolanduwakwe@gmail.com