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.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Contents: List of illustrations—Notes on contri9butors—1. Contextualizing Afghanistan’s transitions : influences and challenges / Srijoy Bose and William Maley—2. Neither war nor peace / Paula R. Newberg—Part I : the politics of the state—3. The state and community self-governance : paths to stability and human security in post-2014 Afghanistan / M. Nazif Shahrani—4. State strength and the rule of law / William Maley—5. Revenue and state building in Afghanistan / Nematullah Bizhan—Part II : state, society and governance—6. Getting the politics right : beyond ‘good governance’ in Afghanistan / Jonathan Goodhand—7. Strongman provincial governance / Dipali Mukhopadhyay—8. Afghanistan’s political parties : a tale of incomplete reform and transformation / Srinjoy Bose and Niamatullah Ibrahimi….

English