I bring this up the 'left/right' framing because there's a certain breed of (very stupid, *Eurocentric*—I won't tediously say racist, but) political commentators who have ceased paying attention to Afghanistan now that the popcorn munching bits of it are over. But it's important:
https://twitter.com/lndian_Bronson/status/1463560432908652548
Almost every political ideology of import (the wish of 2004 era pretentious types for people to care more about politics, not sports or celebrity came true by the monkey's paw) the Anglophone political-media sphere knows of originated in Europe and is oriented on these axes
This is, and again, I won't be so cute as to call it racist, deeply Eurocentric. It's why State, CIA and DOD were capable of little more than cynically approving themselves budgets for a 'Global War on Terror'. The absolutely worn out takes on Afghanistan miss something crucial:
"oF cOuRse yyOu cAn'T maKe a naTioN-StAte fRoM a tRiBaL soCieTy"—yeah, *whatever*
But look at the model of State that DOES exist, has existed for 20 years, and is now effectively governing from Kabul, engaging with the Japanese, cannabis companies, which defeated the US Military
But look at the model of State that DOES exist, has existed for 20 years, and is now effectively governing from Kabul, engaging with the Japanese, cannabis companies, which defeated the US Military
it's effectively a movement governed network-state;
the core strength of the Taliban and the factions which composed it is a fanatical religious devotion, one that *pre-selects* alignment and commitment before any kind of tasking, one that survives literal decapitation strikes
the core strength of the Taliban and the factions which composed it is a fanatical religious devotion, one that *pre-selects* alignment and commitment before any kind of tasking, one that survives literal decapitation strikes
the 'cloud' from which the State cohered is an abstract religious one, but the State is now *very* corporeal. It has guns, armored vehicles, they are carried and driven around by men of flesh and blood
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiebout_m…
Tiebout's time has come
https://twitter.com/lndian_Bronson/status/1462875491619196931
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiebout_m…
Tiebout's time has come
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
