|
|
Article: The Fragmentation of Afghanistan: State Formation and Collapse in the International System.
- Article from:
- American Political Science Review
- Article date:
- December 1, 1995
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1995 Cambridge University Press. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
The Soviet occupation of Afghanistan was undoubtedly one of the decisive events in the history of Cold War, and the burdens of that occupation played at least some role in triggering the collapse of the USSR and the communist system more generally. Yet the Afghan conflict remains poorly understood by scholars, despite the extensive coverage it received and its obvious importance. Too many studies, even in scholarly venues, have been marred by political bias and Cold War passions. In this context, Barnett Rubin's study is a refreshing departure and provides the first serious book-length effort to place the Afghan conflict in a social-scientific perspective.
Rubin ...