The Afghanistan Wars

by William Maley

Overview

A whole generation has grown up in Afghanistan knowing little but the ravages of war. The dramatic overthrow of the Taliban regime in 2001 was simply one event in a series of interrelated struggles which have blighted ordinary people's lives over the last three decades, and which continue to interfere with reconciliation and reconstruction. This new edition of The Afghanistan Wars provides a meticulously-documented history of these successive waves of conflict. From the roots of Afghanistan's slide into disorder in the late 1970s to the challenges faced by Afghan leaders following the substantial withdrawal of international forces in 2014, it explores military and diplomatic history while also offering valuable insight on humanitarian action, gender, medical and cultural themes.

Thoroughly revised in the light of the latest research, the third edition also features a new final chapter which examines recent developments in Afghanistan, bringing the story up to the present day and mounting a strong case for continuing support for this troubled country.

New to this Edition:
- A final chapter on the recent developments in Afghanistan up to the present day
- Revised to take into account the considerable amount of new material published on this topic since 2009
- Refreshed and updated throughout

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781352011029
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	11/03/2020
Edition description:	3rd ed. 2021
Pages:	377
Product dimensions:	5.83(w) x 8.27(h) x 0.88(d)

About the Author

WILLIAM MALEY is Professor of Diplomacy at the Asia-Pacific College of Diplomacy at The Australian National University, Australia, where he served as Foundation Director from 2003 to 2014.
WILLIAM MALEY is Professor of Diplomacy at the Asia-Pacific College of Diplomacy at The Australian National University, Australia, where he served as Foundation Director from 2003 to 2014.

Table of Contents

Introduction
The Road to War
Soviet Strategy, Tactics, and Dilemmas
The Development of Afghan Resistance
The Karmal Period, 1979–1986
The Najibullah–Gorbachev Period, 1986–1989
The Road to Soviet Withdrawal
Consequences of the Soviet–Afghan War
The Interregnum of Najibullah, 1989–1992
The Rise and Fall of the Rabbani Government, 1992–1996
The Rise and Rule of the Taliban, 1994–2001
The Fall of the Taliban regime
The Karzai era
Afghanistan from 2014.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

Maley's book is arguably the key text both for students and researchers on Afghanistan's recent history. Underpinned by extensive scholarship and judicious argumentation, The Afghanistan Wars is also of great relevance to any appraisal of a vital element of US and Western efforts in the 'war on terror'.' - Gregory Kent, Roehampton University, UK

'The publication of a second edition of William Maley's 'The Afghanistan Wars' is a most welcome development. The first edition, which dealt with the period up to the fall of the Taliban, was a model of lucid historical exposition combined with sophisticated analysis, valuable for both the specialist and the general reader. The new edition continues to exhibit these qualities with an additional chapter bringing the narrative up to date.' - John Chiddick, La Trobe University, Australia

'The best work available on Afghanistan's recent history - Maley's scholarship and mastery of the sources are evident on every page.' - Stephen J. Blank, Strategic Studies Institute of the U.S. Army War College, USA