The Death of Isolationism; U.S. Foreign Policy and Afghanistan
Disciplines
Diplomatic History | Political History | United States History
Abstract (300 words maximum)
The September 11th attacks ignited a new era of American foreign policy; the Global War on Terror. As the United States sought out punishment of those responsible, it facilitated the creation of a new narrative in which the U.S. played a more centralized role within the deterrence of globalized terrorism. Post-9/11 literature has claimed that the United States was aware of threats from Afghanistan as a result of the 1998 Kenyan and Tanzanian embassy bombings; however, this research argues that terrorism from the nation of Afghanistan was known to the United States government earlier than 1998 and was ignored in a larger effort to maintain political isolationism. While this research does not explain the events of modern political discourse between Afghanistan and the United States, it serves to analyze the pre-existing history between the two nations prior to the September 11th attacks and contribute to existing scholarship about U.S.-Afghan relations.
Use of AI Disclaimer
no
Academic department under which the project should be listed
RCHSS – History & Philosophy
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Silke Zoller
The Death of Isolationism; U.S. Foreign Policy and Afghanistan
The September 11th attacks ignited a new era of American foreign policy; the Global War on Terror. As the United States sought out punishment of those responsible, it facilitated the creation of a new narrative in which the U.S. played a more centralized role within the deterrence of globalized terrorism. Post-9/11 literature has claimed that the United States was aware of threats from Afghanistan as a result of the 1998 Kenyan and Tanzanian embassy bombings; however, this research argues that terrorism from the nation of Afghanistan was known to the United States government earlier than 1998 and was ignored in a larger effort to maintain political isolationism. While this research does not explain the events of modern political discourse between Afghanistan and the United States, it serves to analyze the pre-existing history between the two nations prior to the September 11th attacks and contribute to existing scholarship about U.S.-Afghan relations.