- 27 Nov 2024
[Book Launch] How to Lose a War: The Story of America’s Intervention in Afghanistan
MEI in collaboration with S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS).
The US’s failed intervention in Afghanistan
The question of what caused America’s Afghanistan debacle or, in other words, where the US, backed by NATO and non-NATO allies, went wrong, has been widely debated from varying perspectives. However, there has not been an insightful and coherent expose of what led the US to move from its initial ‘light footprint’ approach to a ‘heavy footprint’ one, which trapped the US in the complex task of state-building in a country that traditionally lacked the necessary foundations for statehood. The move marked a turning point in entangling the US in a long and unwinnable war and therefore ultimate defeat.
Drawing on his book How to Lose a War, Prof Saikal will address critically the key factors that contributed to the US failures and narrate the important lessons learned from America’s Afghanistan experience.
This event will be conducted both in person and online via Zoom, on 27 November 2024, 3.00pm to 4.30pm SGT. All are welcome to participate. This event is free, however, registration is compulsory. Successful registrants will receive a confirmation email with the Zoom details closer to the date of the event.
For purchase of book, please click here.
Photo Caption: Afghan Air Force’s A-29 attack aircrafts are pictured as armoured vests are lying on the ground inside a hangar at the airport in Kabul on August 31, 2021, after the US has pulled all its troops out of the country to end a brutal 20-year war — one that started and ended with the hardline Islamist in power. (Photo by WAKIL KOHSAR / AFP)
About the Speakers
Adjunct Senior Fellow
RSIS, NTU
Amin Saikal AM, FASSA is an Adjunct Senior Fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), an Emeritus Professor of Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies, and the Founding Director of the Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies at the Australian National University (ANU). He also serves as an Adjunct Professor of Social Sciences at the University of Western Australia.
Professor Saikal is a recipient of the Order of Australia (AM) for his contributions to international education and for founding the Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies. He is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia (FASSA) and the winner of the Peter Baume Award, ANU’s highest honor for distinguished academic achievement.
His recent books include How to Lose a War: The Story of America’s Intervention in Afghanistan (Yale University Press, 2024), Iran Rising: The Survival and Future of the Islamic Republic (Princeton University Press, 2021), Islam Beyond Borders: Umma in World Politics (Cambridge University Press, 2019), and The Spectre of Afghanistan: The Security of Central Asia (Bloomsbury, 2021). His previous works cover a wide range of geopolitical and historical topics, with notable titles such as Modern Afghanistan: A History of Struggle and Survival (I.B. Tauris, 2012) and The Rise and Fall of the Shah: Iran from Autocracy to Religious Rule (Princeton University Press, 2009).
A prolific writer, Professor Saikal has contributed articles to leading academic journals and has written numerous opinion pieces for major global outlets, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, and Project Syndicate. He is also a frequent commentator on global media networks such as BBC, ABC, and CNA, providing insights into Middle Eastern and Central Asian affairs.
Professor of National Security Studies; and Provost’s Chair in National Security Studies
Dean of S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies and Research Adviser to International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research
Kumar Ramakrishna is Professor of National Security Studies and Dean of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), where he also serves as Research Adviser to the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research. He has held numerous leadership roles, including Head of the National Security Studies Programme and Associate Dean for Policy Studies at RSIS. He earned his PhD in History from the University of London and holds degrees in Political Science and Defence Studies.
Ramakrishna’s research focuses on counter-terrorism, radicalization, and propaganda. He has authored several notable books, including Emergency Propaganda and Radical Pathways. His latest work, Extremist Islam: Recognition and Response in Southeast Asia (2022), was published by Oxford University Press.
Internationally recognized for his expertise, Ramakrishna has been a fellow at institutions such as Oxford University and Coventry University, and has served on various international boards and government panels. His insights on terrorism are frequently sought by media and global audiences.
Event Details
Shaw Foundation Alumni House
Sage Room
11 Kent Ridge Dr, Singapore 119244
2. via zoom
