"Before Taliban"

[Kevin Robert Dean]

Williams College 
21-Jun-02 


"Before Taliban" Traces Afghan Jihad's Geneaology
Library: LIF-SOC 
Keywords: AFGHANISTAN JIHAD TALIBAN CULTURE 
Description: In David B. Edwards' new book, "Before
Taliban: Genealogies of the Afghan Jihad," the author
traces the lives of three recent Afghan leaders -- Nur
Muhammad Taraki, Samiullah Safi, and Qazi Amin Waqad.
The result is a powerful book that explains how the
promise of progress and prosperity that animated
Afghanistan in the 1960s crumbled and became a tragedy
of discord, destruction, and despair. 

"BEFORE TALIBAN," A NEW BOOK BY DAVID B. EDWARDS 
TRACES THE AFGHAN JIHAD'S GENEALOGIES 

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass., June 20, 2002 -- In David B.
Edwards' new book, "Before Taliban: Genealogies of the
Afghan Jihad," (University of California Press) the
author traces the lives of three recent Afghan leaders
-- Nur Muhammad Taraki, Samiullah Safi, and Qazi Amin
Waqad. 

The result is a powerful book that explains how the
promise of progress and prosperity that animated
Afghanistan in the 1960s crumbled and became a tragedy
of discord, destruction, and despair. 

In the mid twentieth century, Afghans believed their
nation could be a model of economic and social
development that would inspire the world. Instead,
political conflict, foreign invasion, and civil war
have left the country impoverished and politically
dysfunctional. 

Each of the men Edwards profiles were engaged in the
political struggles of the country's recent history.
They hoped to see Afghanistan become a more just and
democratic nation. But their visions for their country
were radically different, and in the end, all three
failed and were killed or exiled. 

"Before Taliban" tells these men's stories and
provides a thorough analysis of why their dreams came
to ruin. In Edwards' able hands, this culturally
informed biography provides a mesmerizing and
revealing look into the social and cultural contexts
of political change. 

"Before Taliban" builds on the foundation that Edwards
laid in his previous book, "Heroes of the Age," in
which he examines the lives of three significant
figures of the late nineteenth century -- a tribal
khan, a Muslim saint, and a prince who became king of
the newly created state. 

Edwards is also the author of "Learning from the Swat
Pathans: Political Leadership in Afghanistan" and many
other articles on Afghanistan and South Asia. 

Edwards is chair and professor of anthropology at
Williams College. He received his B.A. from Princeton
University, and his Ph.D from the University of
Michigan. Before joining the faculty at Williams,
Edwards taught anthropology at Washington University
and the University of Michigan. 

He spent five years living in Afghanistan and working
with Afghan refugees in Pakistan. His knowledge of
Afghanistan and its people has been called on many
times by publications and programs ranging from the
New York Times to NPR and the BBC World Service. 

He was recently named a "Scholar of Vision" for
2002-03 and awarded a major fellowship by the Carnegie
Corporation in New York. 

END 

Contact Jo Procter, college news director 
Direct phone line: (413) 597-4279 
email: Jo.Procter at williams.edu 


=====
Kevin Dean
Buffalo, NY
ICQ: 8616001
AIM: KDean75206
Buffalo Activist Network
http://www.buffaloactivist.net
http://www.yaysoft.com

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