Building a new Afghanistan /

This impressive collection of articles focuses on the serious obstacles Afghanistan must confront before it can successfully emerge as a confident, independent nation. Written by experienced and expert Afghan, US, and British contributors, the essays examine the overriding dilemmas and fundamental perils in great depth. Among these concerns are security, institution building, growth and prosperity, and the realities of the drug economy. The authors contend that effective state building will depend on eliminating the national security problems that are directly related to the renewed Taliban insurgency, the lack of rule of law and judicial reform, and most importantly the drug economy. Instead of immediately attempting to eradicate poppy growing, opium and heroin production, and drug trafficking, these essays suggest controversial new alternatives. Such steps would involve integrating the Afghan economy into the Central Asian or greater Eurasian economy, thereby inducing trade partnerships with its northern and western neighbors. It is hoped that developing a sense of common purpose among the citizens would unite the country and benefit the economy. A fine piece of scholarship, essential for those interested in Middle East politics. Summing Up: Essential. Upper-division undergraduates and above. S. Ayubi Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Camden