How to Lose a War offers an insightful account of one of the US’s most significant foreign policy failures — and considers its dire consequences for the people of Afghanistan.

The historical context --Intervention, post-Taliban democratization and the 'War on Terror' -- Dysfunctional governance : the Hamid Karzai era, 2001-14 -- Dysfunctional governance : the Ashraf Ghani era, 2014-21 -- State-building : other challenges, 2001-21 -- Strategy and security.