AFGHANISTAN AND CENTRAL ASIA - A MODERN HISTORY

The Afghan crisis has grabbed the attention of the entire world and underlined the desperate need for a better understanding of the whole region and its challenges. It is impossible to comprehend modern Afghanistan without a grasp of both its history and its place in Central Asia. Martin McCauley draws on his vast knowledge of Central Asia to provide a clear and highly readable account of Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Essential background reading, this concise introduction outlines the colourful history of the region to the present and then examines the driving issues of today: oil, militant Islam, money, the Taliban and the international stage.