Afghanistan: A Cultural and Political History (Princeton Studies in Muslim Politics, 45)

Afghanistan traces the historic struggles and the changing nature of political authority in this volatile region of the world, from the Mughal Empire in the sixteenth century to the Taliban resurgence today. Thomas Barfield introduces readers to the bewildering diversity of tribal and ethnic groups in Afghanistan, explaining what unites them as Afghans despite the regional, cultural, and political differences that divide them. He shows how governing these peoples was relatively easy when power was concentrated in a small dynastic elite, but how this delicate political order broke down in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries when Afghanistan's rulers mobilized rural militias to expel first the British and later the Soviets. Armed insurgency proved remarkably successful against the foreign occupiers, but it also undermined the Afghan government's authority and rendered the country ever more difficult to govern as time passed. Barfield vividly describes how Afghanistan's armed factions plunged the country into a civil war, giving rise to clerical rule by the Taliban and Afghanistan's isolation from the world. He examines why the American invasion in the wake of September 11 toppled the Taliban so quickly, and how this easy victory lulled the United States into falsely believing that a viable state could be built just as easily. Afghanistan is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand how a land conquered and ruled by foreign dynasties for more than a thousand years became the "graveyard of empires" for the British and Soviets, and what the United States must do to avoid a similar fate. This Work Traces The Historic Struggles And The Changing Nature Of Political Authority In This Volatile Region Of The World, From The Mughal Empire In The Sixteenth Century To The Taliban Resurgence Today. The Author Introduces Readers To The Bewildering Diversity Of Tribal And Ethnic Groups In Afghanistan, Explaining What Unites Them As Afghans Despite The Regional, Cultural, And Political Differences That Divide Them. He Shows How Governing These Peoples Was Relatively Easy When Power Was Concentrated In A Small Dynastic Elite, But How This Delicate Political Order Broke Down In The Nineteenth And Twentieth Centuries When Afghanistan's Rulers Mobilized Rural Militias To Expel First The British And Later The Soviets. Armed Insurgency Proved Remarkably Successful Against The Foreign Occupiers, But It Also Undermined The Afghan Government's Authority And Rendered The Country Ever More Difficult To Govern As Time Passed. He Describes How Afghanistan's Armed Factions Plunged The Country Into A Civil War, Giving Rise To Clerical Rule By The Taliban And Afghanistan's Isolation From The World. He Examines Why The American Invasion In The Wake Of September 11 Toppled The Taliban So Quickly, And How This Easy Victory Lulled The United States Into Falsely Believing That A Viable State Could Be Built Just As Easily. This Book Helps The Reader Understand How A Land Conquered And Ruled By Foreign Dynasties For More Than A Thousand Years Became The Graveyard Of Empires For The British And Soviets, And What The United States Must Do To Avoid A Similar Fate. People And Places -- Conquering And Ruling Pre-modern Afghanistan -- Anglo-afghan Wars And State Building In Afghanistan -- Afghanistan In The Twentieth Century : State And Society In Conflict -- Afghanistan Enters The Twenty-first Century -- Some Conclusions. Thomas Barfield. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. A major history of Afghanistan and its changing political cultureAfghanistan traces the historic struggles and the changing nature of political authority in this volatile region of the world, from the Mughal Empire in the sixteenth century to the Taliban resurgence today. Thomas Barfield introduces readers to the bewildering diversity of tribal and ethnic groups in Afghanistan, explaining what unites them as Afghans despite the regional, cultural, and political differences that divide them. He shows how governing these peoples was relatively easy when power was concentrated in a small dynastic elite, but how this delicate political order broke down in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries when Afghanistan's rulers mobilized rural militias to expel first the British and later the Soviets. Armed insurgency proved remarkably successful against the foreign occupiers, but it also undermined the Afghan government's authority and rendered the country ever more difficult to govern as time passed. Barfield vividly describes how Afghanistan's armed factions plunged the country into a civil war, giving rise to clerical rule by the Taliban and Afghanistan's isolation from the world. He examines why the American invasion in the wake of September 11 toppled the Taliban so quickly, and how this easy victory lulled the United States into falsely believing that a viable state could be built just as easily.Afghanistan is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand how a land conquered and ruled by foreign dynasties for more than a thousand years became the'graveyard of empires'for the British and Soviets, and what the United States must do to avoid a similar fate. Title......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Contents......Page 6 List of Illustrations......Page 8 Preface......Page 10 Introduction......Page 16 CHAPTER ONE: People and Places......Page 32 CHAPTER TWO: Conquering and Ruling Premodern Afghanistan......Page 81 CHAPTER THREE: Anglo-Afghan Wars and State Building in Afghanistan......Page 125 CHAPTER FOUR: Afghanistan in the Twentieth Century: State and Society in Conflict......Page 179 CHAPTER FIVE: Afghanistan Enters the Twenty-first Century......Page 287 CHAPTER SIX: Some Conclusions......Page 352 Notes......Page 366 References......Page 374 A......Page 382 B......Page 384 D......Page 385 E......Page 386 F......Page 387 G......Page 388 I......Page 389 J......Page 390 K......Page 391 M......Page 392 N......Page 394 P......Page 395 Q......Page 397 R......Page 398 S......Page 399 T......Page 401 U......Page 402 Y......Page 403 Z......Page 404 Title 4 Copyright 5 Contents 6 List of Illustrations 8 Preface 10 Introduction 16 CHAPTER ONE: People and Places 32 CHAPTER TWO: Conquering and Ruling Premodern Afghanistan 81 CHAPTER THREE: Anglo-Afghan Wars and State Building in Afghanistan 125 CHAPTER FOUR: Afghanistan in the Twentieth Century: State and Society in Conflict 179 CHAPTER FIVE: Afghanistan Enters the Twenty-first Century 287 CHAPTER SIX: Some Conclusions 352 Notes 366 References 374 Index 382 A 382 B 384 C 385 D 385 E 386 F 387 G 388 H 389 I 389 J 390 K 391 L 392 M 392 N 394 O 395 P 395 Q 397 R 398 S 399 T 401 U 402 V 403 W 403 X 403 Y 403 Z 404 9780691145686