Having traveled, observed, and researched intensively in Afghanistan since 1988, Gilles Dorronsoro is a uniquely well-informed analyst of the country and its peoples, with unrivaled knowledge, especially of its non-Pashtun areas. While not underestimating the oft-cited “ethnic factor†in Afghan politics, especially Pashtun dominance, Dorronsoro argues that class and the competition for employment and education are key factors in explaining the country’s ...
Compared to post-invasion Iraq, Afghanistan seems a success story; but first impressions can be misleading. The country remains on a knife-edge, and the loss of momentum in its transition from the Taliban regime puts Afghanistan at grave risk of relapsing into dangerous insecurity. Although many afghans have contributed courageously to rescuing their country, and some key benchmarks have been achieved, Afghanistan continues to face severe difficulties. Elite ...