Poppies, Politics, and Power: Afghanistan and the Global History of Drugs and Diplomacy
Afghanistan’s international reputation has long been influenced by the opium trade, which is frequently blamed for conflict, corruption, and the fragility of the state. However, Poppies, Politics, and Power by James Tharin Bradford adopts a surprisingly nuanced stance, looking at opium not just as a destructive force but also as a lens through which to view Afghanistan’s intricate relationship with state-building and international diplomacy. The book, which covers a century of history, exposes reductionist narratives and shows how drug control laws have frequently made the problems they were intended to tackle worse.
Moreover, Bradford illustrates how prohibitionist tactics were frequently more about political legitimacy than true reform by following Afghanistan’s opium policy from King Amanullah’s modernizing attempts in the 1920s through the drug crackdowns of the Cold War. He highlights Afghanistan’s admission to the League of Nations in 1934, the United States’ purchases of opium during the war, and the Badakhshan prohibition drive in 1958 as examples of the uneasy relationship between foreign pressure and domestic governance. Furthermore, Afghan drug policy was significantly reshaped by the United States, especially during the Nixon administration, frequently with unexpected results.
Consequently, Bradford makes a strong case that attempts to impose prohibition often failed. For instance, Nixon’s drug policies unintentionally encouraged the growing of poppies in Helmand, which is today the opium heartland of Afghanistan. Rather than weakening criminal networks, crackdowns frequently strengthened them, destabilizing governments and fueling corruption. As Bradford aptly observes, “Drug control often amplified the issues of governance that gave rise to… criminal organizations” (220–221).
In addition, this book is unique because it skillfully combines international diplomatic currents with Afghanistan’s domestic conflicts. Bradford provides examples of how Afghan officials reconciled their own political reality with requests from the international community. For example, the goal of the 1958 prohibition was to gain international prestige rather than to completely eradicate drugs. Similarly, state control over drugs was further complicated by the international counterculture influences brought about by the 1960s “hippie trail.”
Rather than presenting opium as merely a sign of instability, Bradford contends that Afghanistan’s drug trade and state-building initiatives have been mutually constitutive. He shows that the cultivation of poppies was both a result and a cause of poor governance, with campaigns to outlaw the practice regularly undermining the power of the state. His viewpoint aligns with that of academics like David Mansfield, who have criticized Helmand’s top-down eradication attempts.
Furthermore, Bradford’s multidisciplinary approach, which draws on Afghan sources, UN reports, and archives, closes a significant gap in the literature. Poppies, Politics, and Power places the drug trade within larger processes of state-building and international diplomacy, in contrast to works that only address opium’s role in financing conflicts, like Gretchen Peters’ Seeds of Terror or Alain Labrousse’s Afghanistan: Opium de guerre, opium de paix. It also re-centers Afghan agency in world history, joining previous research by Nile Green and Robert Crews.
However, certain questions remain unresolved due to the book’s wide historical scope. While Bradford meticulously outlines the shortcomings of prohibitionist policies, he does not propose specific alternatives. Nevertheless, this omission reinforces his central argument—that rigid international drug laws are often disconnected from local conditions.
Beyond academia, Bradford’s observations hold real-world relevance. The book’s lessons seem particularly pertinent as Afghanistan navigates its post-American future under Taliban control. Historically, prohibitionist policies have weakened states and enriched traffickers, as seen from Colombia to Myanmar. Although Bradford refrains from offering direct policy recommendations, his study raises important questions about whether alternative economic incentives or regulated markets could mitigate harm.
Moreover, the book deepens scholarly discussions on globalization and state formation. By emphasizing how Afghan rulers managed international influence, Bradford challenges Eurocentric notions of the “failed state.” Additionally, his integration of drug diplomacy into political history offers a framework for studying other regions entangled in global commodity networks.
Ultimately, Poppies, Politics, and Power is a brilliant blend of historical and policy analysis, compelling readers to reconsider oversimplified accounts of the Afghan drug trade. Bradford challenges the moral dichotomy of “good” and “bad” substances by arguing that opium and state-building are inextricably linked. At a time when prohibitionist orthodoxy still dominates global drug policy, this book serves as a timely reminder of the consequences of ignoring history.
The views and opinions expressed in this article/paper are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The Spine Times.
Nasir Imtiaz
Nasir Imtiaz is the content strategist of The Spine Times.
