Intervention narratives : Afghanistan, the United States, and the Global War on Terror / Purnima Bos.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Bose, Purnima, 1962- author.

Series:

War culture

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Afghan War, 2001-2021.

Relations.

United States--Relations--Afghanistan.

United States.

Afghanistan--Relations--United States.

Afghanistan.

War on Terrorism, 2001-2009.

Imperialism.

Intervention (International law).

Afghan War, 2001-2021--Literature and the war.

Afghan War, 2001-2021--Mass media and the war.

International relations.

Mass media and war.

War and literature.

Physical Description:

x, 219 pages ; 23 cm.

Place of Publication:

New Brunswick : Rutgers University Press, [2020]

Summary:

Intervention Narratives examines the contradictory cultural representations of the US intervention in Afghanistan that help to justify an imperial foreign policy. These narratives involve projecting Afghans as brave anti-communist warriors who suffered the consequences of American disengagement with the region following the end of the Cold War, as victimized women who can be empowered through enterprise, as innocent dogs who need to be saved by US soldiers, and as terrorists who deserve punishment for 9/11. Given that much of public political life now involves affect rather than knowledge, feelings rather than facts, familiar recurring tropes of heroism, terrorism, entrepreneurship, and canine love make the war easier to comprehend and elicit sympathy for US military forces. An indictment of US policy, Bose demonstrates that contemporary imperialism operates on an ideologically diverse cultural terrain to enlist support for the war across the political spectrum.

Contents:

Introduction : Intervention narratives and geopolitical fetishism

The premature withdrawal narrative

Hegemonic masculinities and the liberal humanist subject

The capitalist rescue narrative

Afghan women and micro-entrepreneurship

The canine rescue narrative and post humanist humanitarianism

The retributive justice narrative

Osama bin Laden as simulacra

Post-script : three presidents, one policy.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781978805989

1978805985

9781978805996

1978805993

OCLC:

1099543948