Recovering the Frontier State (Paperback)

Rasul Bakhsh Rais

ISBN 10: 0739137018 / ISBN 13: 9780739137017

Editore: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, Lanham, MD, 2009

Riguardo questo articolo

Paperback. This book examines the prospects for rebuilding state and nation in Afghanistan with regard to 'Operation Enduring Freedom' carried out by the international coalition. It starts off by delineating the conceptual basis of Afghanistan's status as a frontier state. Looking at geo_strategic aspects Afghanistan's position as an historical buffer between empires and its internal characteristics-_weak authority structure, internal conflicts, interventions by neighbors, legitimacy of internal conquest, and trans-national ethnicities, the book provides insights into the unique geo-political context of Afghanistan. Whilst the author deems the legacy of the previous intervention for containment as a major contributing factor to the disorder in Afghanistan's state and society, he draws on lessons from the past intervention to assuage current obstacles and stalemate that is hindering political, social, and economic development in Afghanistan. Focusing on the impediments to development in Afghanistan, the background against which the problem needs to be analyzed, and consequently countered, is effectively set out. Incessant war and insurgency has led to mobilization along ethnic and religious lines in Afghanistan and has had profound effects on the kinds of intuitions that have perpetuated over time. Ethnic and religious groups have applied constant pressure on the state and this dissonance has had enduring negative consequences on nation building, social cohesion, and state-society relationships. Pre-emptive and reactive intervention by neighboring states and their links to ethnic groups inside Afghanistan is another dimension which is analyzed. An extensive exploration into the geo-political history of social groups of Afghanistan with an intensive account of the rise of various power contenders as a function of their history, their links with external actors, and their traditional position in the indigenous vertical hierarchy are made. Unconventional war and counter-insurgency operations funded by foreign and local elements are examined and policy guidelines for negotiations and conflict resolution are discussed. The work provides fresh insights into the rise of the Taliban, and adds further to the scholarly debate about the causes for the consolidation of Taliban power. It traces the history of the Afghan crisis, and critically evaluates the roles played by different national and international actors. A major contribution of the work is the articulation of the need for an integrated nation and state building strategy which takes into account the sensitivities of the Afghanistan experience instead of treating it like other post-conflict zones. The book explores how legacies of internal strife and foreign invasions have altered the balance of social and political forces that provided some measure of stability to Afghanistan. The country faces structural constraints in the way of reviving itself owing to ethnic fragme. This item is printed on demand. Shipping may be from our UK warehouse or from our Australian or US warehouses, depending on stock availability.

Codice articolo 9780739137017

Dati bibliografici

• Titolo: Recovering the Frontier State (Paperback)
• Editore: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, Lanham, MD
• Data di pubblicazione: 2009
• Lingua: Inglese
• ISBN 10: 0739137018
• ISBN 13: 9780739137017
• Rilegatura: Paperback
• Condizione: new

Descrizione articolo

Riassunto

The book explores how legacies of internal strife and foreign invasions have altered the balance of social and political forces that provided some measure of stability to Afghanistan. The country faces structural constraints in the way of reviving itself owing to ethnic fragmentation, Taliban insurgency, and shallow social roots of political power. The central argument is that Afghanistan needs positive international engagement to find a new balance among its fractious social groups and build effective state and nationhood.

Informazioni sugli autori

Rasul Bakhsh Rais is professor of political science at Lahore University of Management Sciences in Lahore, Pakistan.

Rasul Bakhsh Rais is professor of political science at Lahore University of Management Sciences in Lahore, Pakistan.