Sovereignty of the Afghan State under the Taliban
March 23, 2026 | The Taliban's rule violates international norms, but that doesn't give Pakistan the right to violate Afghanistan's sovereignty.
Articles by Bruce Cumings
Taliban Rule is Not Authoritarian but Despotic Totalitarianism
August 11, 2025 | Like any totalitarian regime, the Taliban aims to moralize its ideology to such an extent that domestic opposition becomes highly improbable--but not impossible.
Global Repercussions of Trump’s Withdrawal from Climate Politics
April 28, 2025 | Other countries--China, Russia, India--are rushing to fill the void for their own strategic gain.
Environmental Conspiracies, The State, and Nature
October 18, 2024 | Behind the environmental conspiracies concocted during the current U.S. presidential campaign lies a belief that humans should dominate nature.
After Moscow Attack, Great Powers Should Rethink Geopolitical Competition
April 2, 2024 | Counter-terrorism should still bring states together against common threats.
Will the Taliban Revolt Against its Leadership?
April 13, 2023 | The Taliban contains many contending factions, but that's also a source of its stability.
Is Afghanistan Balkanizing under the Taliban Rule?
August 16, 2022 | On the one-year anniversary of their seizure of power, the Taliban now face a wholly different threat.
Tall Tale about Special Forces in North Korea?
May 31, 2012 | The Army denies a story about the use of Special Forces in North Korea. But a great deal lies behind this slip of the lip.
Clapper: Managing the Intelligence Enterprise
June 18, 2010 | James Clapper, Obama's choice to head up national intelligence, has extensive ties to private intelligence outfits and the policies of the previous administration.