Afghanistan : a modern history : monarchy, despotism or democracy? : the problems of governance in the Muslim tradition / Angelo Rasanayagam.

Originally published: 2003.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 301-306) and index.

pt. I: The Building of the State: 1. The 'Iron Amir': Abdur Rahman Khan (1880-1901) -- 2. The Afghan Monarchy -- 3. Daoud's Modernization Programme and the Pashtunistan Issue (1953-63) -- The Democratic Experiment (1963-73) -- 5. The Abolition of the Monarchy and the Daoud Presidency (1973-78) -- pt. II: The Descent into Civil War and Anarchy: 6. The 'Saur Revolution' (1978-79) -- 7. Prelude to the Soviet Invasion -- 8. The Sovietization of Afghanistan (1979-89) -- 9. Pakistan, the United States and the Afghan Resistance -- 10. The Geneva Accords and the Soviet Withdrawal -- pt. III: The Disintegration of the State: 11. The Fragmentation of Afghanistan -- 12. Afghan Buzkashi: The Players and the Stakes (1989-98) -- 13. Regional and International Reactions and Repercussions -- 14. Pakistan and the Taliban -- 15. The Withered State (1996-2001) -- pt. IV: The Rude Awakening: 16. Holy War, Unholy Terror -- 17. Winning a War, Building the Peace.

The first major history of modern Afghanistan, this book traces the country's development from the accession of Abdul Rahman Khan, the 'Iron Amir' in 1880, right up to the demise of the Taliban under US bombing over the winter of 2001, and the search for a new state structure in 2002.