The Rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan: Mass Mobilization, Civil War, and the Future of the Region

by Neamatollah Nojumi

On September 11, 2001, the world looked in horror at one of the most nefarious acts of terrorism in history. Neamatollah Nojumi explains how Afghanistan became the base for radical fundamentalism and provides critical understanding of how internal divisions and the devastating effects of foreign involvement undermined the resilience of Afghanistan's communities, led to the rise of the Taliban, and now presents a unique challenge to international efforts at nation building. As the cycle of yesterday's allies becoming today's enemies turns once again, The Rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan provides crucial insight into the tangled interaction of domestic, regional, and international politics that have bedeviled outsiders, plagued Afghans, and that threaten, absent judgement based on insight, to be a quagmire for the United States in the years ahead. This is essential reading in our troubled times.

Genres: Terrorism, Academia

260 pages, Paperback

First published January 4, 2002

Reviews

[Ned Cheston · Rating 1 out of 5]

May struggle to finish this. Started for obvious reasons but rapidly lost interest. It's not so much a byproduct of this text being densely historical, which it is, but rather because it barely mentions the word Taliban in the first 100 pages. The history of Afghanistan is undoubtedly important in telling the Taliban's story, but I did expect the Taliban to play a bigger part in the narrative. Will have to look for something more targeted.

[R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Began this after 9/11 - was a great insight into the truths that we now openly acknowledge about the Taliban's rise, and the US's hand in creating that threat. It takes an unflinching look over their crimes against humanity. I found it balanced and disturbing.

[KP · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent and detailed overview of the rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan- very accessible for people who don't know any of Afghan history or Islamic history.