The Rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan: Mass Mobilization, Civil War, and the Future of the Region by Neamatollah Nojumi - 9780312294021 - Compare Discount Book Prices & Save up to 90%

On September 11, 2001, the world looked in horror at one of the most nefarious acts of terrorism in history. Neamatollah Nojumi explains how Afghanistan became the base for radical fundamentalism and provides critical understanding of how internal divisions and the devastating effects of foreign involvement undermined the resilience of Afghanistan's communities, led to the rise of the Taliban, and now presents a unique challenge to international efforts at nation building. As the cycle of yesterday's allies becoming today's enemies turns once again, The Rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan provides crucial insight into the tangled interaction of domestic, regional, and international politics that have bedeviled outsiders, plagued Afghans, and that threaten, absent judgement based on insight, to be a quagmire for the United States in the years ahead. This is essential reading in our troubled times.

		The Rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan: Mass Mobilization, Civil War, and the Future of the Region by Neamatollah Nojumi ISBN-10: 9780312294021 ISBN-10: 0-312-29402-6 ISBN-13: 9780312294021 ISBN-13: 978-0-312-29402-1 Hardcover 2002-01-04 Palgrave Macmillan Find Lowest Price
Editorials

Product Description On September 11, 2001, the world looked in horror at one of the most nefarious acts of terrorism in history. Neamatollah Nojumi explains how Afghanistan became the base for radical fundamentalism and provides critical understanding of how internal divisions and the devastating effects of foreign involvement undermined the resilience of Afghanistan's communities, led to the rise of the Taliban, and now presents a unique challenge to international efforts at nation building. As the cycle of yesterday's allies becoming today's enemies turns once again, The Rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan provides crucial insight into the tangled interaction of domestic, regional, and international politics that have bedeviled outsiders, plagued Afghans, and that threaten, absent judgement based on insight, to be a quagmire for the United States in the years ahead. This is essential reading in our troubled times.
Book Description On September 11, 2001, the world looked in horror at one of the most nefarious acts of terrorism in history. Neamatollah Nojumi explains how Afghanistan became the base for radical fundamentalism and provides critical understanding of how internal divisions and the devastating effects of foreign involvement undermined the resilience of Afghanistan's communities, led to the rise of the Taliban, and now presents a unique challenge to international efforts at nation building. As the cycle of yesterday's allies becoming today's enemies turns once again, The Rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan provides crucial insight into the tangled interaction of domestic, regional, and international politics that have bedeviled outsiders, plagued Afghans, and that threaten, absent judgement based on insight, to be a quagmire for the United States in the years ahead. This is essential reading in our troubled times.
Reviews

The Rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan: Mass Mobilization, Civil War, and the Future of the Region Background 1. Title and Subject. The rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan is an illustrated book in which the writer explains how Afghanistan became the base for radical fundamentalism. It also provides a critical understanding of how internal divisions and the devastating effects of foreign interference undermines the resilience of Afghanistan communities, led to the rise of Taliban ultimately present a unique challenge to international efforts to nation building. 2. Author. Neamatollah Nojumi was raised in Afghanistan and also participated in the Mujahideen fight against the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. He also contributed to humanitarian efforts in providing medical and other related services to those Afghans who have suffered from the external and internal fighting. He is a frequent speaker on the politics of Afghanistan. 3. Thesis The author objective is to inform the instructive analysis to help the readers to fathorn the diverse complexities as well as to provide the critical context to understand the obstacles and opportunities ahead in achieving peace in Afghanistan. Contents 4. The book is basically divided into four main elements, Socio-political differences, Mass Mobilization, Civil War and the future of the region. (a) Socio-Political Differences Neamatollah Nojumi describes about the events of massive political, social and cultural changes as a result of the April 1978 COUP D'ETAT by the People Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) followed by Soviet invasion in December 1979, lasted for almost ten years. The PDPA attempted to move Afghanistan from a pre-industrial Society to a political establishment for paving the way towards socialism. Since the people in Afghanistan lived, traditionally, under Communal Codes of autonomy and individual freedom, therefore PDPA was unable to foresee the depth of these codes. IT ultimately caused massive violent confrontation between Afghan Communities and the PDPA-led government. (b) Mass Mobilization The writer describes that the mass mobilization is the result of clash between masses and government which occurred as a result of political, social and economic interaction. The Afghan mass mobilization revolves around three groups. The leftist (pro-and anti-Moscow) the radical Islamic political parties (the Ikhwanis and Wahabis) and the nationalist/Islamic political parties. The role of Afghan Mujahideen in the process of Mass Mobilization is very important because of their internal divisions. The political leaders in the PDPA and Mujahideen organization failed to provide a viable solution in the course of decades of war and violence. (c) Civil War Neamatollah Nojumi comments that after the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan in 1989, the lack of trust between Mujahideen and government under Najeebullah led to civil war in Afghanistan. The severe confrontation between Iran-based leaders, the Pakistan-based leader and the external front leaders raised the issue of power-sharing. Another dichotomy arose over the issue of ethnic confrontation between Pashtuns, Tajiks, Hazaras and Uzbiks. The failure of the field Commanders to form an interim government in Afghanistan contributed to the eruption of civil war. The unanticipated rise of Taliban in 1994 from Southern Village of Qandhar, fall of Heart and entering Kabul in September, 1996 was an important military and political strategy for the Taliban. Although Taliban gained control of 80 percent of Afghanistan after fall of Mazar-e-Sharif, yet Ahmed Shah Masood was only northern leader to save the core of his fighters. (d) Future of the Region As per writer, the essence of national, regional and international politics is of paramount importance to pave the way in the political settlement of a futuristic Afghanistan. One can realize the current regional and international interests with regard to situation in Afghanistan and more importantly, the impact of Afghanistan in the regional stability. Evaluation 5. The evaluation of the book is as follows: (a) The author is unable to cover the subject as his biased approach towards neighbouring countries was evident throughout the book. (b) The book is a good effort at portraying the reasons for the rise of the Taliban. (c) The shortcoming in thesis and conclusion, however, is its approach, narrative at the expense of analysis. (d) The Rise of Taliban is interesting to read for the victories of Taliban through their military and political strategy. (e) The book, has 260 pages and was first published in 2002 by `PALGRAVE' formerly Macmillan Press Ltd, New York (USA)
information is a dangerous thing read this book written by an afghani to get a broader understanding of the region.though this book was published in the mid 90's as you read it you'll not be sure if you're reading on afghan. during the 80's or iraq under US occupation today.
Good overview of the rise of forces leading to Bin Laden. This slim volume gives a theory, which ultimately let the likes of Osama/Usama Bin Laden, and the leadership of the Taliban, take over in Afghanistan, and their relationship to the 11 September, 2001 (9/11) attacks and the aftermath (in the Epilogue). Gives a theory of mass revolt + mass participation + mass organisation (organization) = mass mobilisation (mobilization) in which the author provides a framework for groups, like Al-Qaeda, operate. Further, the book gives a historical perspective on how the competition between "secular" and "religious" forces have shaped the rise of groups, like Al-Qaeda and the Taliban, in Afghanistan. The author proffers a theory to limit the effects of terrorism, and the increasing numbers of disaffected Afghans, for example, or as in Iraq, Iraqis; who join militant Islamic groups, due to a lack of stabilisation (stabilization) in the country, to provide for a stabilised [stabilized] country and to work to support a more stable government, in particular, the United States in its foreign policy and not just to (as in Iraq) "bomb the people into submission" (n)or "to support a 'puppet' regime, either of which leads to the sort of militancy which the U.S. forces are now facing in Afghanistan and in Iraq [as part of a failed foreign policy, continuing through many administrations; especially the (newly)"reelected" one in the U.S.]. Worth a look.
Don't bother The Publisher's Weekly review is spot on. The actual discussion of the Taliban doesn't show until the middle of the book! This book appears to be a poorly written and overly-detailed college essay that publishers decided to inflict on the unsuspecting public during a time when they knew it would sell. Don't bother.