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Cambridge Middle East Library
Islam and Resistance in Afghanistan
In this newly updated edition, Olivier Roy expands his penetrating study of the history, ideology and structures of the Afghan resistance movement to mid-1989. He examines the evolution of the military and political situation inside Afghanistan during the last years of the Soviet presence and discusses relations between the Afghan resistance and the Islamic fundamentalist movements. The situation created by the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan is also explored and in a new conclusion Professor Roy assesses to what extent the war has altered the traditional fabric of Afghan society.
284 pages, Paperback
First published November 28, 1986
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About the author
Olivier Roy
92 books200 followersA professor at the European University Institute in Florence (Italy); he was previously a research director at the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) and a lecturer for both the School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences (EHESS) and the Institut d'Études Politiques de Paris (IEP).
From 1984 to 2008, he has acted as a consultant to the French Foreign Ministry.
In 1988, Roy served as a United Nations Office for Coordinating Relief in Afghanistan (UNOCA) consultant.
Beginning in August 1993, Roy served as special OSCE representative to Tajikistan until February 1994, at which time he was selected as head of the OSCE mission to Tajikistan, a position he held until October 1994.
Roy received an "Agrégation" in Philosophy and a Master's in Persian language and civilization in 1972 from the French Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales.
In 1996, he received his PhD in Political Science from the IEP.
Roy is the author of numerous books on subjects including Iran, Islam, Asian politics. These works include Globalized Islam: The search for a new ummah, Today's Turkey: A European State? and The Illusions of September 11.
He also serves on the editorial board of the academic journal Central Asian Survey.
His best-known book, L'Echec de l'Islam politique; The Failure of Political Islam. It is a standard text for students of political Islam.
Roy wrote widely on the subject of the 2005 civil unrest in France saying they should not be seen as religiously inspired as some commentators said.
His most recent work is Secularism Confronts Islam (Columbia, 2007). The book offers a perspective on the place of Islam in secular society and looks at the diverse experiences of Muslim immigrants in the West. Roy examines how Muslim intellectuals have made it possible for Muslims to live in a secularized world while maintaining the identity of a "true believer."
From 1984 to 2008, he has acted as a consultant to the French Foreign Ministry.
In 1988, Roy served as a United Nations Office for Coordinating Relief in Afghanistan (UNOCA) consultant.
Beginning in August 1993, Roy served as special OSCE representative to Tajikistan until February 1994, at which time he was selected as head of the OSCE mission to Tajikistan, a position he held until October 1994.
Roy received an "Agrégation" in Philosophy and a Master's in Persian language and civilization in 1972 from the French Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales.
In 1996, he received his PhD in Political Science from the IEP.
Roy is the author of numerous books on subjects including Iran, Islam, Asian politics. These works include Globalized Islam: The search for a new ummah, Today's Turkey: A European State? and The Illusions of September 11.
He also serves on the editorial board of the academic journal Central Asian Survey.
His best-known book, L'Echec de l'Islam politique; The Failure of Political Islam. It is a standard text for students of political Islam.
Roy wrote widely on the subject of the 2005 civil unrest in France saying they should not be seen as religiously inspired as some commentators said.
His most recent work is Secularism Confronts Islam (Columbia, 2007). The book offers a perspective on the place of Islam in secular society and looks at the diverse experiences of Muslim immigrants in the West. Roy examines how Muslim intellectuals have made it possible for Muslims to live in a secularized world while maintaining the identity of a "true believer."
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 2, 2026
A really great book on the resistance to the communist government of Afghanistan. While it does show its age at points, it still reveals some truths about the transformation of Afghan society from the Communist coup to the National Reconciliation program. As proof of this books' competence when I reached the end of the book I realized that Roy had basically sketched out the future of Afghanistan until 9/11, or at least set out the factions which would be relevant. This all comes from a time when lots of amateurish Afghan analysis clouded the scene.
Roy is a real scholar who has paid his dues and spent his time in Afghanistan to really understand Afghan society from the smallest Qawm to national religious and political movements. I'd highly recommend this book if you already have it, otherwise you might want to look for a newer analysis.
Roy is a real scholar who has paid his dues and spent his time in Afghanistan to really understand Afghan society from the smallest Qawm to national religious and political movements. I'd highly recommend this book if you already have it, otherwise you might want to look for a newer analysis.
August 1, 2012
Really understand in the political structure of Afghan.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews