Revolution Unending: Afghanistan, 1979 to the Present (The CERI Series in Comparative Politics and International Studies)
The ongoing violence in Iraq has forced Afghanistan off the front pages. Some staunch supporters of Bush foreign policy even point to the "great success" in Afghanistan. But, as this vital and disturbing work asserts, this is a story still being written, and the ending is far from certain. Professor Dorronsoro (of the Sorbonne) has traveled and researched extensively in Afghanistan since 1988, and his book is not balanced; he seems to have an anti-American bias, and he often recklessly accuses the U.S. of "hegemony," "imperialism," and "war crimes." Nevertheless, he knows his subject, and he provides a necessary examination of Afghanistan's recent past, present, and future possibilities. He offers a convincing explanation for both the Soviet invasion and failures, and his account of the rise of the Taliban and their connections to Pakistan is particularly interesting. Despite the elections last year, Dorronsoro views the current "national" government as a virtual creation of foreign governments and international organizations. The challenge is to somehow create a national identity that can transcend ethnic and class differences. A timely and valuable work.Jay FreemanCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved