Description
Discover the captivating and tumultuous history of Afghanistan with this essential trade paperback titled 'Afghanistan'. Authored by Thomas Barfield and published by Princeton University Press in 2023, this book offers an in-depth exploration of Afghanistan's political evolution and the intricate tapestry of its tribal and ethnic identities. With an ISBN of 9780691238562, it stands as a vital resource for students and enthusiasts of Afghan history. Barfield deftly traces the country's historical struggles from the Mughal Empire to the Taliban's resurgence, providing readers with crucial insights into how Afghanistan navigated the challenges posed by foreign powers. This book examines the rise and fall of political authority, the impact of armed insurgency, and the complexities of national governance. As you delve into its pages, you will learn how Afghanistan became known as the 'graveyard of empires' and why understanding this political landscape is crucial for grasping contemporary global narratives. Whether you're a historian, a political science student, or simply someone intrigued by Afghanistan, this book is a must-have addition to your collection. Enjoy free shipping on this brand new item, and please note that delivery may take up to 6 weeks. After placing your order, cancellations are not possible. Explore the depth of Afghan history today with this enlightening read!
Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.
Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9780691238562
Format: Trade paperback (US)
Year: 2023
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Description:
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 an
Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.
Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9780691238562
Format: Trade paperback (US)
Year: 2023
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Description:
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 an