The US Military Intervention in Afghanistan 2001 2013 Interests and Moves

Abstract

Structural transformation of the world order in post-Cold war era brought some important changes in world politics. These changes brought a corresponding change in the behaviour of the sole superpower of our times, the US. Growing menace of international terrorism presented both an opportunity as well as a challenge to the American policy makers not seen ever before. America s reaction to the 9/11 terrorist attacks on World Trade Centre symbolised this stark reality of our times. What inspired this researcher to take up this study is the way a violent non-state actor (Al-Qaeda) influenced in heightening the security concerns in US. These security concerns coupled with the search for a referral point to pursue a militaristic foreign policy led the US policy makers to frame the Global War on Terror to retain American primacy in world politics. newlineThis study attempts to locate US military intervention in Afghanistan in response to September 2001 attacks on World Trade Centre within the theoretical framework of offensive realism developed by John Mearsheimer. It sought to explore how far this theoretical framework could explain US military intervention in Afghanistan in 2001. The offensive strategy being followed by the US policy makers to defend and protect American interests in Afghanistan and elsewhere disregarding the existing international norms reflect the unilateralist orientation of American foreign policy in the post-Cold war period. Unleashing Global War on Terror in the name of containing international terrorism, that too in response to the attacks of a terrorist organization without any state affiliation raises more questions relating to hegemonial tendencies of the US than it answers. The unilateralist and militaristic foreign policy posturing of the only superpower in a changed international environment undoubtedly would have multifarious and long lasting implications newlinefor other state actors as well as the international system as a whole. At the same time, such military interventions also impact the s