Afghanistan: Mullah, Marx, and Mujahid

by Ralph H., Magnus and Eden Naby

In this broad introductory volume, Ralph Magnus and Eden Naby detail Afghanistan's physical situation, human environment, and modern history, as well as the rise and fall of competing internal forces, most recently the Taliban. The authors offer analytical insight into Afghanistan's political position within the restructured Central Asian region, the ethnic relationships that complicate its political history, and the potential for stability.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0813340195
• ISBN13: 9780813340197
• Release Date: May 2002
• Publisher: Basic Books
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.97 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.1" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Decipherable complexity

The authors did a masterful job of working through the complexity of Afghanistan's complex geography, history, economic relationships, religious factions and ethnic diversity. Due to the nature of the subject and the type of indepth analysis which is required, this is a slow read, but is well worth the time spent. Most of the material published since 9/11 on Afghanistan is focused on the Taliban or Al-Qaeda, but the historical trends that allowed both organizations to exist and even thrive for a while is limited. This book helps fill the gaps in the knowledge base.

The best book you can find about Afghanistan.

This book is, in my opinion, the best source of information you can find regarding Afghanistan as a whole in the market. The authors laid out the geography and demographics of the country first, in order to establish a solid foundation to the latter chapters. Once you have understood the basics, it gets really easy to grasp the ideas and facts presented afterwards. This is a relatively concise book, yet very informative, well-focused and well-written. The last 200 years of Afghanistan is depicted with a very understandable, fluent language, famous figures are exhibited successfully. The role of foreign factors acted in the politics of Afghanistan was laid out very well. It also covers some of the recent events, e.g. Taliban movement and its collapse. All in all, it gives you a very comprehensive picture of Afghanistan, it is a must-read!

Invaluable insights into Afghanistan's political position

In Afghanistan: Mullah, Marx, And Mujahid, the late Ralph Magnus drew upon his expertise as coordinator of Middle Eastern Studies at the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California and his experience as a former assistant cultural attache of the American embassy in Kabul, to examine Afghanistan's physical situation, human environment, and modern history, as well as the rise and fall of competing internal forces which at the time included the Taliban as well as the independent regional warlords of the north. The reader is provided with invaluable insights into Afghanistan's political position within the restructured Central Asian region, the ethnic relationships complicating its history and potential for political, economic, and social stability. A new introduction by Eden Naby provides a contextual framework for a reasoned perspective on Afghanistan's past, present and future. Afghanistan remains a valuable, timely, and strongly recommended addition to both academic and community library reference collections.

A Currently Relevant History

Dan Rather, when he wrote the forward to this book said that "The trouble with trying to tell the story of Afghanistan, now as ever, is that it is so difficult to get the story straight and to get it out." Dr. Naby, with her co-author the late Prof. Magnus, provide the most readable form of the recent history of Afghanistan concentrating especially on the last twenty-years. We learn why it was prudent, in light of the Cold War, to aid the mujahidin, and why it was imprudent to abandon them to the machinations of their fanatical manipulators - the renegade Arabs organized by Osama Bin Laden. The chronolgy alone is worth the price. Buy the paperback edition with an epilogue that sets the story of feminists and Afghanistan in the context of American foreign policy formation.

Great book

This is a great book. When will the worsl realize that the TALEBAN IS the best for Afghanistan. Women are protected in Afghanistan, not opressed. No Hollywood celebrities will ruin Afghanistan's chance for prosperity. I am an Afghan women(note the name) and I can tell you that Afghanistan will not accept the western ways and allow the women to be raped daily.Taleban saved us, youre rape stories are Tajik lies. The Taleban said its Purification round in Kabul is over and has opened 13 girl schools, ready to open 50 more! The only ones that go against them are the Tajik and Persians. They are guests in Afghanistan, they dont deserve the right to Zama Watan(my country). They dont like it? They should go to Tajikistan or Iran and get out of Afghanistan, the land of PASHTUNS. Long Live the Taleban! BTW AFGHANI WOMEN DID NOT GO FROM BIKINI TO BURQA!