Over the past century, the process of state-building in Afghanistan has repeatedly failed, with each failure resulting not only in the collapse of institutional order but also in the reproduction of structural violence, political conflict, and social fragmentation. Within this context, Islamists extremist movements have functioned as anti-state actors, playing a pivotal role in undermining political legitimacy, institutional cohesion, and state authority.

Focusing on the period from 2001 to 2021, this book analyzes the failure of state-building in Afghanistan through the theoretical lenses of fragile statehood, political legitimacy, and power contestation. By examining the interaction between internal dynamics and external interventions, the study elucidates the scope and mechanisms through which Islamists extremist actors have contributed to the erosion of political order, governance failure, and the persistence of instability. The book ultimately offers a critical interpretation of the relationship between ideology, power, and the state in contemporary Afghanistan.

Timor Shah Bushar holds a Ph.D. in International Relations and is a scholar of comparative international politics and regional studies, with a primary focus on Afghanistan. His research expertise encompasses state-building in conflict-affected environments, political Islam, and counterterrorism studies. His work examines issues of sovereignty, governance, and security in post-conflict societies and contributes to broader academic debates on regional security complexes and international intervention. He is the author of several scholarly publications, including Sovereign Actors in Afghanistan: The Strategic Calculus, 2001–2021; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Post-Conflict Societies: A Case Study of Afghanistan’s Civic Organizations, 2001–2021; and Afghanistan`s Security Repositioning Across Three Regional Security Complexes: A Comparative Assessment.