The Spectre of Afghanistan

Security in Central Asia

The Spectre of Afghanistan
Amin Saikal, Kirill Nourzhanov
RRP:
NZ$ 54.99
Our Price:
NZ$ 43.99
Paperback
h234 x 156mm - 248pg
11 Feb 2021 UK
International import eta 7-19 days
9780755637065
Out Of Stock
Currently no stock in-store, stock is sourced to your order

Click to view other formats:
9781788317658 UK Hardback $132.00

Connecting a number of divergent perspectives on the current state of Afghanistan, this book outlines the country' s past and present instability and how this impacts and is conceptualised by its neighbours as well as by international heavyweights such as Russia, China and the United States. Given Afghanistan' s extensive cross-border ethnic, linguistic, sectarian and cultural ties with its neighbours - whatever transpires in the war-torn country is bound to have regional and global security implications. This study focuses on the current formal and informal defensive policies the states of Central Asia have in place in the event of the Afghan situation deteriorating further or the Taliban-led insurgency substantially widening their influence. The book also considers the positions and policy responses of three influential actors in the region: Russia, China and the United States. It assesses the convergence of interests between these great powers in stabilising Afghanistan, and their divergence of geopolitical objectives in the region.
A clearly written, masterfully documented and analyzed book on one of the most menacingly securitized conflicts of our times, it unpacks the long-neglected perceptions and reactions of post-Soviet Central Asian Muslim republics, fearing "spill over" from their soft underbelly, Afghanistan. Nourzhanov, an area specialist focused on Soviet and Post-Soviet Central Asia, and Saikal, a seasoned political scientist focused on Iran, Arab Gulf states and beyond, have teamed-up to produce a work of inestimable value for anyone interested in understanding the domestic, regional and global dimensions of the deepening political turmoil in Afghanistan, and the US policy failures to end its longest war in history. A must read for policy makers, area specialists and the befuddled public. * M. Nazif Mohib Shahrani, Indiana University, USA * The Spectre of Afghanistan is the most trenchant contribution to the literature on security studies in Central Asia to date. Nourzhanov and Saikal are seasoned observers who succeed in casting light into the darker recesses of the region' s complex, and sometimes byzantine, international relations. Their tour de force presents a comprehensive, yet comprehensible portrait of the convoluted political and cultural dynamic between the five "stans" that emerged from Soviet aegis a generation ago and their troubled neighbour lying to the south. This book will prove to be an invaluable resource for any who seek a more nuanced and profound understanding of this vital part of Eurasia. * Reuel R. Hanks, Oklahoma State University, USA *
Amin Saikal is Adjunct Professor of Social Sciences at the University of Western Australia, and author of ' Modern Afghanistan: A History of Struggle and Survival' (2012), and ' Iran Rising: The Survival and Future of the Islamic Republic' (2019)Kirill Nourzhanov is Deputy Director of the Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies at The Australian National University, Australia.
Status: Indicates in stock with Supplier
ISBN-13: 9780755637065
Published: 11 Feb 2021
Published In: United Kingdom
Imprint: I.B. Tauris
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Format: Paperback
Height: 234mm
Width: 156mm
Pages: 248

In stock - for items in stock we aim to dispatch the next business day. For delivery in NZ allow 2-5 business days, with rural taking a wee bit longer.

Locally sourced in NZ - stock comes from a NZ supplier with an approximate delivery of 7-15 business days.

International Imports - stock is imported into NZ, depending on air or sea shipping option from the international supplier stock can take 10-30 working days to arrive into NZ. 

Pre-order Titles - delivery will vary depending on where the title is published, if local stock is available in NZ then 5-7 business days, for international imports it can be 10-30 business days. In all cases we will access the quickest supply option.

Delivery Packaging - we ship all items in cardboard sleeves or by box with either packing paper or corn starch chips. (We avoid using plastics bubble bags)

Tracking - Orders are delivered by track and trace courier and are fully insured, tracking information will be sent by email once dispatched.

View our full Order & Delivery information

Details of the product above will be automatically included with your enquiry.