ABSTRACT

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.

chapter 1|27 pages

Contextualising Afghanistan’s transitions

Influences and challenges

chapter 2|13 pages

Neither war nor peace

part I|49 pages

The politics of the state

part II|50 pages

State, society and governance

chapter 6|18 pages

Getting the politics right

Beyond ‘good governance’ in Afghanistan

chapter 8|19 pages

Afghanistan’s political parties

A tale of incomplete reform and transformation

part III|47 pages

Social change