The convergence and divergence of the United States and the European Union have influenced the state-building process in Afghanistan over the past two decades.

Abstract

The history of Afghanistan can be seen as lacking fundamental and structural governments, although rulers under the title of the state governed the country in the recent century. However, the absence of accountable governments led the country to remain in perpetual conflict and chronic violence. After 2001, when a new chapter in Afghanistan's political history began, the United States and the European Union had direct and indirect involvement in all Afghan affairs. Misunderstanding the necessity and importance of Afghanistan's cultural, historical structures, and underdevelopment in governance contributed significantly to the challenge of state-building. The main question is: how has the convergence and divergence between the United States and the European Union influenced the state-building process in Afghanistan over the past two decades? Apparently, the European Union and the United States did not fundamentally differ in their definition of governance issues. However, they had differences in their approaches and methods to achieve their goals, which had a negative impact on the state-building process in Afghanistan. This study utilized analytical-descriptive methods and collected information from library resources, articles, and journals. The findings indicate that over the past two decades, the European Union and the United States did not differ in supporting a strong government in Afghanistan. However, they had differences in their approaches and methods to achieve their goals, leading to the failure of state-building efforts.