{"product_id":"afghanistan-a-short-history-of-its-people-and-politics-9780060505080","title":"Afghanistan: A Short History of Its People and Politics","description":"A fascinating chronicle of a nation's turbulent history. \u003cp\u003eReaching back to earliest times, Martin Ewans examines the historical evolution of one of today's most dangerous breeding grounds of global terrorism. After a succession of early dynasties and the emergence of an Afghan empire during the eighteenth century, the nineteenth and early twentieth century saw a fierce power struggle between Russia and Britain for supremacy in Afghanistan that was ended by the nation's proclamation of independence in 1919. A communist coup in the late 1970s overthrew the established regime and led to the invasion of Soviet troops in 1979. Roughly a decade later, the Soviet Union withdrew, condemning Afghanistan to a civil war that tore apart the nation's last remnants of religious, ethnic, and political unity. It was into this climate that the Taliban was born.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eToday, war-torn and economically destitute, Afghanistan faces unique challenges as it looks toward an uncertain future. Martin Ewans carefully weighs the lessons of history to provide a frank look at Afghanistan's prospects and the international resonances of the nation's immense task of total political and economic reconstruction.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eEwans, Martin:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - Sir Martin Ewans, a former officer of the British Diplomatic Service, served in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India, as well as in diplomatic missions in Africa and North America. He holds a degree from Cambridge University and is currently chairman of the international charity Children's Aid Direct.","brand":"Harper Perennial","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50843979612434,"sku":"9780060505080","price":13.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_3dbc4429-1248-40c9-86a9-6cb2b3672228.jpg?v=1737305582","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/afghanistan-a-short-history-of-its-people-and-politics-9780060505080","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}