Why the European Union Failed in Afghanistan: Transatlantic Relations and the Return of the Taliban

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.

Oz Hassan is Reader in the Politics and International Studies Department at the University of Warwick. He was awarded one of the Middle East Policy Council’s 40 under 40 awards in 2023.