Proxy War in Afghanistan: The Politics of State-Wrecking
By (Author) Abbas Farasoo
Manchester University Press
Manchester University Press
17th September 2025
United Kingdom
Tertiary Education
Non Fiction
Cold wars and proxy conflicts
Hardback
240
Width 156mm, Height 234mm
This book provides a compelling analysis of proxy warfare and its far-reaching implications for statehood, focusing on the conflict in Afghanistan. Introducing the innovative concept of "state-wrecking," it bridges theory and practice to unravel how external support for insurgent actors fuels violence, undermines territorial control and sovereignty, intensifies violence, and dismantles political legitimacy. The work shifts the discourse on proxy wars from the strategies of global powers to the procedural and structural impacts within target states.
Grounded in rigorous empirical research, including interviews, archival data, and conflict analysis, the book critically examines the Pakistan-Taliban nexus and the limitations of US-led interventions. By blending a robust theoretical framework with in-depth case studies, it reveals how proxy dynamics shape conflicts, disrupt governance, and challenge international security. This is an essential resource for those seeking to understand the entanglements of modern warfare and the fragility of states under external influence.
Abbas Farasoo is a researcher at La Trobe University