“In the wake of the Taliban nightmare, Afghanistan must tackle serious problems before it can emerge as a confident, independent nation. Security continues to deteriorate ; suicide bombings, convoy ambushes, and insurgent attacks are still all too common. Effective state building will depend upon eliminating the national security crisis and enhancing the rule of law…”—cover page.

Contents: Preface—Map of Afghansitan—1. Renewing the Afghan State / Robert I. Rotberg (p. 1)—2. The legacy of war and the challenge of peace building / Ali A. Jalali (p. 22)—3. Strengthening security in contemporary Afghanistan : coping with the Taliban / Hekmat Karzai (p. 56)—4. Neither stable nor stationary : the politics of transition and recovery / Paula R. Newberg (p. 82)—5. Rebuilding a robust Afghan economy / Alastair J. McKechnie (p. 98)—6. Revitalizing Afghanistan’s economy : the government’s plan / Hedayat Amin Arsala (p. 134)—7. Regional development in greater Central Asia : the Afghan pivot / S. Frederick Starr (p. 155)—8. Responding to the opium dilemma / Cindy Fazey (p. 178)—9. The place of the province in Afghanistan’s subnational governance / Sarah Lister and Hamish Nixon (p. 205)—Contributors (p. 227)—Index (p. 231).

Summary: "Discusses what Afghanistan and the international community should do to resolve dangerous issues and bolster a still fragile state. Offers a blueprint for moving toward greater democracy and prosperity while arguing that the future success of state building in Afghanistan depends on diversifying the economy and enhancing its economic status"—provided by publisher.