Afghanistan: A Short History of Its People and Politics

Afghanistan: A Short History of Its People and Politics
by Martin Ewans

Afghanistan: A Short History of Its People and Politics
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Book Summary Information

Author: Martin Ewans
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2002-09-01
ISBN: 0060505087
Number of pages: 368
Publisher: Harper Perennial
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Book Reviews of Afghanistan: A Short History of Its People and Politics

Book Review: Afghanistan in Context
Summary: 4 Stars

Former diplomat Martin Ewans' interest in Afghanistan shines in this well-written book on the history of Afghanistan and the events that has made this country what it is today. Ewans talks about the ancient history, the rise of the Pashtun, the British domination which warped and jaded the fabled compassion and openness of the people, the often overlooked and turbulent developments of the mid-20th century and a rare and balanced view of the soviet occupation from 1979 to the mid-eighties.

For students of Afghanistan who have trouble wading through dry histories, this book is a breath of fresh air. Well written and engaging, this work does not get bogged down with an overabundance of details, but rather gives a clear layout of the histories inlaid with rich details that bring to life the people who made the history. A clear logical flow makes the narrative easy to follow and easy to refer back to previous events. Highly recommended by a student of this fascinating country.

Summary of Afghanistan: A Short History of Its People and Politics

A fascinating chronicle of a nation's turbulent history.

Reaching back to earliest times, Martin Ewans examines the historical evolution of one of today's most dangerous breeding grounds of global terrorism. After a succession of early dynasties and the emergence of an Afghan empire during the eighteenth century, the nineteenth and early twentieth century saw a fierce power struggle between Russia and Britain for supremacy in Afghanistan that was ended by the nation's proclamation of independence in 1919. A communist coup in the late 1970s overthrew the established regime and led to the invasion of Soviet troops in 1979. Roughly a decade later, the Soviet Union withdrew, condemning Afghanistan to a civil war that tore apart the nation's last remnants of religious, ethnic, and political unity. It was into this climate that the Taliban was born.

Today, war-torn and economically destitute, Afghanistan faces unique challenges as it looks toward an uncertain future. Martin Ewans carefully weighs the lessons of history to provide a frank look at Afghanistan's prospects and the international resonances of the nation's immense task of total political and economic reconstruction.

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