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After decades of turmoil a new phase is opening up for Afghanistan, in which a new generation comes to the fore as many of the key players from earlier phases, including foreign interventionist powers, leave the scene. Although this new phase offers new possibilities and increased hope for Afghanistan's future, the huge problems created in earlier phases remain. This book presents a comprehensive overall assessment of the current state of politics and society in Afghanistan, outlining the difficulties and discussing the future possibilities. Many of the contributors are Afghans or Afghan insiders, who are able to put forward a much richer view of the situation than outside foreign observers.
List of contents
1. Contextualising Afghanistan’s transitions: influences and challenges
2. Neither war nor peace
Part I: The politics of the state
3. The state and community self-governance: paths to stability and human security in post-2014 Afghanistan
4. State strength and the rule of law
5. Revenue and statebuilding in Afghanistan
Part II: State, society and governance
6. Getting the politics right: beyond ‘good governance’ in Afghanistan
7. Strongman provincial governance
8. Afghanistan’s political parties: a tale of incomplete reform and transformation
Part III: Social change
9. Afghan youth and ‘soft radicalisation’: emerging social forces
10. Challenges to sustainable livelihoods and socio-economic development in a post-ISAF environment
11. Internal displacement in afghanistan: the tip of the iceberg
Part IV: Afghanistan and the world
12. Mapping the future of US–Pakistan relations vis-à-vis Afghanistan post-withdrawal
13. Prospects for Iran and Afghan Relations
14. Afghanistan and the regional insecurity contagion
15. Neutrality and its place in Afghanistan’s foreign policy
About the author
Srinjoy Bose is a Senior Teaching Fellow in the School of Government and International Affairs at Durham University, UK.
Nishank Motwani is a Visiting Fellow in the Asia-Pacific College of Diplomacy at The Australian National University.
William Maley is Professor of Diplomacy, Asia-Pacific College of Diplomacy at The Australian National University.
Summary
This book presents a comprehensive overall assessment of the current state of politics and society in Afghanistan, outlining the difficulties and discussing the future possibilities. Many of the contributors are Afghans or Afghan insiders, who are able to put forward a much richer view of the situation than outside foreign observers.
