The Taliban and the crisis of Afghanistan: edited by Robert D. Crews and Amin Tarzi

The Taliban remain one of the most elusive forces in modern history. A ragtag collection of clerics and madrasa students, this obscure movement emerged out of the rubble of the Cold War to shock the world with their draconian Islamic order. The Taliban refused to surrender their vision even when confronted by the United States after September 11, 2001. Reinventing themselves as part of a broad insurgency that destabilized Afghanistan, they pledged to drive out the Americans, NATO, and their allies and restore their "Islamic Emirate." The Taliban and the Crisis of Afghanistan explores the paradox at the center of this challenging phenomenon: how has a seemingly anachronistic band of religious zealots managed to retain a tenacious foothold in the struggle for Afghanistan's future? Grounding 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. Shunning journalistic accounts of its conspiratorial origins, the essays investigate broader questions relating to the character of the Taliban, its evolution over time, and its capacity to affect the future of the region. Offering an invaluable guide to "what went wrong" with the American reconstruction project in Afghanistan, this book accounts for the persistence of a powerful and enigmatic movement while simultaneously mapping Afghanistan's enduring political crisis. (20071119)

the Taliban Remain One Of The Most Elusive Forces In Modern History. A Ragtag Collection Of Clerics And Madrasa Students, This Obscure Movement Emerged Out Of The Rubble Of The Cold War To Shock The World With Their Draconian Islamic Order. The Taliban Refused To Surrender Their Vision Even When Confronted By The United States After September 11, 2001. Reinventing Themselves As Part Of A Broad Insurgency That Destabilized Afghanistan, They Pledged To Drive Out The Americans, Nato, And Their Allies And Restore Their Islamic Emirate.

the Taliban And The Crisis Of Afghanistan Explores The Paradox At The Center Of This Challenging Phenomenon: How Has A Seemingly Anachronistic Band Of Religious Zealots Managed To Retain A Tenacious Foothold In The Struggle For Afghanistan's Future? Grounding 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. Shunning Journalistic Accounts Of Its Conspiratorial Origins, The Essays Investigate Broader Questions Relating To The Character Of The Taliban, Its Evolution Over Time, And Its Capacity To Affect The Future Of The Region.

offering An Invaluable Guide To What Went Wrong With The American Reconstruction Project In Afghanistan, This Book Accounts For The Persistence Of A Powerful And Enigmatic Movement While Simultaneously Mapping Afghanistan's Enduring Political Crisis.

publishers Weekly

observers In The 1990s Marveled To See The Taliban Bring Order To A Chaotic Afghanistan After The Soviet Withdrawal. Admiration Vanished As The Taliban Proceeded To Oppress Men As Well As Women And Massacre Opponents. When They Refused To Surrender Osama Bin Laden After 9/11, The U.s. Invasion Helped Sweep Them From Power. Then Dismissed As Reactionary Zealots, The Taliban Have Since Been Revived And Are Now Steadily Expanding Their Influence. Historian Crews And Reporter Tarzi Have Assembled Eight Revealing Essays On This Widely Reviled Movement. The Taliban Are Ethnic Pashtuns Who Make Up Perhaps Half The Country's Population And Whose Elite Have Traditionally Ruled The Country. This Ragtag Army Of Islamic Clerics And Religious Students Presented Itself As A Superior Alternative To Ruling Pashtun Elites And Successfully Manipulated Tribal Politics. Despite Accusations Of Being A Medieval Throwback, The Taliban Are Islamic Counter Modernists. Their Use Of Mass Spectacle, Surveillance, The Media And Even Their Strict Regulation Of Gender Roles Is Consistent With Other Modern Totalitarian Movements. The Authors' 58-page Introduction Adds Additional Clarity And Context To Afghanistan's Tortured History, Making For An Engrossing Read That Is More Accessible Than Most Academic Collections. (feb.)

copyright 2007 Reed Business Information

The Taliban remain one of the most elusive forces in modern history. A ragtag collection of clerics and madrasa students, this obscure movement emerged out of the rubble of the Cold War to shock the world with their draconian Islamic order. The Taliban refused to surrender their vision even when confronted by the United States after September 11, 2001. Reinventing themselves as part of a broad insurgency that destabilized Afghanistan, they pledged to drive out the Americans, NATO, and their allies and restore their "Islamic Emirate." The Taliban and the Crisis of Afghanistan explores the paradox at the center of this challenging phenomenon: how has a seemingly anachronistic band of religious zealots managed to retain a tenacious foothold in the struggle for Afghanistan's future? Grounding 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. Shunning journalistic accounts of its conspiratorial origins, the essays investigate broader questions relating to the character of the Taliban, its evolution over time, and its capacity to affect the future of the region.Offering an invaluable guide to "what went wrong" with the American reconstruction project in Afghanistan, this book accounts for the persistence of a powerful and enigmatic movement while simultaneously mapping Afghanistan's enduring political crisis.

Annotation The Taliban remain one of the most elusive forces in modern history. A ragtag collection of clerics and madrasa students, this obscure movement emerged out of the rubble of the Cold War to shock the world with their draconian Islamic order. The Taliban refused to surrender their vision even when confronted by the United States after September 11, 2001. Reinventing themselves as part of a broad insurgency that destabilized Afghanistan, they pledged to drive out the Americans, NATO, and their allies and restore their "Islamic Emirate." The Taliban and the Crisis of Afghanistan explores the paradox at the center of this challenging phenomenon: how has a seemingly anachronistic band of religious zealots managed to retain a tenacious foothold in the struggle for Afghanistan's future? Grounding 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. Shunning journalistic accounts of its conspiratorial origins, the essays investigate broader questions relating to the character of the Taliban, its evolution over time, and its capacity to affect the future of the region. Offering an invaluable guide to "what went wrong" with the American reconstruction project in Afghanistan, this book accounts for the persistence of a powerful and enigmatic movement while simultaneously mapping Afghanistan's enduring political crisis [this Book] Explores ... How Has A Seemingly Anachronistic Band Of Religious Zealots Managed To Retain A Tenacious Foothold In The Struggle For Afghanistan's Future ... [it] Investigates ... Questions Relating To The Character Of The Taliban, Its Evolution Over Time, And Its Capacity To Affect The Future Of The Region.--dust Jacket. Explaining The Taliban's Ability To Mobilize The Pashtuns / Abdulkader Sinno -- The Rise And Fall Of The Taliban / Neamatollah Nojumi -- The Taliban, Women, And The Hegelian Private Sphere / Juan R.i. Cole -- Taliban And Talibanism In Historical Perspective / M. Nazif Shahrani -- Remembering The Taliban / Lutz Rzehak -- Fraternity, Power, And Time In Central Asia / Robert L. Canfield -- Moderate Taliban? / Robert D. Crews -- The Neo-taliban / Amin Tarzi -- Epilogue : Afghanistan And The Pax Americana / Atiq Sarwari And Robert D. Crews. Edited By Robert D. Crews And Amin Tarzi. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 359-417) And Index. CONTENTS......Page 6 Maps......Page 8 Note on Transliteration......Page 10 Introduction......Page 14 1. Explaining the Taliban’s Ability to Mobilize the Pashtuns......Page 72 2. The Rise and Fall of the Taliban......Page 103 3. The Taliban, Women, and the Hegelian Private Sphere......Page 131 4. Taliban and Talibanism in Historical Perspective......Page 168 5. Remembering the Taliban......Page 195 6. Fraternity, Power, and Time in Central Asia......Page 225 7. Moderate Taliban?......Page 251 8. The Neo-Taliban......Page 287 Epilogue: Afghanistan and the Pax Americana......Page 324 Notes......Page 372 Contributors......Page 432 Acknowledgments......Page 434 Index......Page 436