Description
Book SynopsisGrounding their analysis in a deep understanding of the country’s past, leading scholars of Afghan history, politics, society, and culture show how the Taliban was less an attempt to revive a medieval theocracy than a dynamic, complex, and adaptive force rooted in the history of Afghanistan and shaped by modern international politics.
Trade ReviewBringing the story of a poorly understood but suddenly vitally important political movement up to date, the authors provide new perspectives on a revitalized Taliban that again threatens the stability of Afghanistan and Pakistan. -- David Edwards, Williams College
Tarzi and Crews' account of the Taliban's historical and political evolution provides a most useful and important perspective on strategic thinking. Issues that bedeviled the Taliban endure, and this timely book underlines the scope of the problem. -- Ronald E. Neumann, former Ambassador to Afghanistan
Historian Crews and reporter Tarzi have assembled eight revealing essays on this widely reviled movement...The authors' 58-page introduction adds additional clarity and context to Afghanistan's tortured history, making for an engrossing read. * Publishers Weekly *
The Taliban and the Crisis of Afghanistan is of great value and highly welcome...Historically, successful counter-insurgency depends on striking political deals with parts of the insurgency. For that to happen, NATO needs to know its enemy. This volume makes a great contribution towards understanding the Taliban and the insurgency. -- Timo Noetzel * World Today *
Table of ContentsIntroduction Robert D. Crews and Amin Tarzi 1. Explaining the Taliban's Ability to Mobilize the Pashtuns Abdulkader Sinno 2. The Rise and Fall of the Taliban Neamatollah Nojumi 3. The Taliban, Women, and the Hegelian Private Sphere Juan R. I. Cole 4. Taliban and Talibanism in Historical Perspective M. Nazif Shahrani 5. Remembering the Taliban Lutz Rzehak 6. Fraternity, Power, and Time in Central Asia Robert L. Canfield 7. Moderate Taliban? Robert D. Crews 8. The Neo-Taliban Amin Tarzi Epilogue: Afghanistan and the Pax Americana Atiq Sarwari and Robert D. Crews Notes Contributors Acknowledgments Index
