Fragmentation of Afghanistan: State Formation & Collapse in the International System

Examines Afghan society in conflict, from the 1978 communist coup to the fall of Najibullah, the last Soviet-installed Pres., in 1992. This rev. ed. reflects developments since then & includes material on the Taliban & Osama bin Laden. Provides a fascinating account of the nature of the old regime, the rise & fall of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan, & the troubled mujahidin resistance. He relates all these phenomena to international actors, showing how the interaction of U.S. policy & Pakistani & Saudi Arabian interests has helped to create the challenges of today. Puts into context the continuing turmoil in Afghanistan & offers readers a coherent historical explanation for the country's social & political fragmentation. Maps.