States, nations, and self-determination: Afghanistan and decolonization at the United Nations

Abstract Afghanistan is not traditionally seen as a ‘decolonized’ state, given that it was never formally part of any empire. Yet Afghan state leaders embraced the language anti-colonialism and self-determination to assert influence in international community, especially at UN. This paper explores interactions between elites UN, particularly way fought growing global consensus era decolonization meant establishment an states system. instead argued for peoples, states. Afghanistan’s stance on self-determination, exception territorial centrism, provides thinking about decolonization’s universalisms particularities, well how ultimately complicated own place community. The article uses engagement with UN General Assembly its various subcommittees, from membership 1946 Soviet withdrawal 1989, reflect ways became yet fractured phenomenon came mean numerous practices could be used by different historical actors articulate multiple, potentially competing visions political autonomy rights. International institutions like provided crucial arenas where postcolonial statehood norm nevertheless contested questioned. By providing UN’s focus statehood, demonstrates ongoing fluidity complexity meaning consequences, which nations continue inform global.