The Doha Agreement: A Path to Authoritarianism

Abstract

This chapter critically examines the 2020 Doha Agreement between the United States and the Taliban and its role in the Taliban’s return to power, arguing that the agreement facilitated the collapse of Afghanistan’s democratic government and the establishment of an authoritarian regime. Contrary to the dominant narrative that views liberal powers as consistent promoters of liberal peace, the chapter demonstrates how the US – despite its rhetoric of liberal peacebuilding – prioritized strategic withdrawal over the protection of democratic governance and human rights. By sidelining the Afghan government and making significant concessions to the Taliban, the Doha Agreement undermined Afghanistan..