Afghanistan`s recent history is a sad one: Soviet invasion in 1979; Pakistan-backed internal conflict in the 1980s; the Taliban regime; & then the US invasion & the multi-national occupation after the events of 11 September 2001. Why does Afghanistan remain so vulnerable to domestic instability, foreign intervention & ideological extremism? In reconstructing the tempestuous narrative of modern Afghanistan, Amin Saikal provides a sweeping new understanding of its troubled past & present. He identifies the country`s inability to develop stable political structures as stemming from the inter-dynastic rivalry (complicated by polygamy) that scarred successive royal families from the end of the eighteenth century until the pro-Soviet Communist coup of April 1978, all exacerbated by foreign interventions
- feeding on fragile domestic structures
- & the rise & fall of different ideological streams. Here, for the first time, is an up-to-date analysis of the era of the Taliban`s rule, the effects of US domination in the country & attempts to negotiate a US withdrawal
- including talks about talks with the Taliban themselves. This book, which sets the crisis of Afghanistan in the context of the country`s modern history & social structures, makes a major & highly original contribution towards a better & more nuanced understanding of this ill-fated l&. It is the definitive study of Afghanistan & its troubles in national, regional & international contexts from 1747 to the present day.


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In the early 1990s, Albania, arguably Europe`s most closed & repressive state, began a startling transition out of forty years of self-imposed Communist isolation. Albanians who were not allowed to practice religion, travel abroad, wear jeans, or read ”decadent” Western literature began to devour the outside world. They opened cafes, companies, & newspapers. Previously banned rock music blared in the streets. Modern Albania offers a vivid history of the Albanian Communist regime`s fall & the trials & tribulations that led the country to become the state it is today. The book provides an in-depth look at the Communists` last Politburo meetings & the first student revolts, the fall of the Stalinist regime, the outflows of refugees, the crash of the massive pyramid-loan schemes, the war in neighboring Kosovo, & Albania`s relationship with the United States. Fred Abrahams weaves together personal experience from more than twenty years of work in Albania, interviews with key Albanians & foreigners who played a role in the country`s politics since 1990-including former Politburo members, opposition leaders, intelligence agents, diplomats, & founders of the Kosovo Liberation Army-and a close examination of hundreds of previously secret government records from Albania & the United States. A rich, narratively-driven account, Modern Albania gives readers a front-row seat to the dramatic events of the last battle of Cold War Europe. ...

The second edition of ” Modern Algeria” brings readers up to date with the outcome of the 2004 Algerian elections. Providing thorough coverage of the 1990s & the end of the Algerian Civil War, it addresses issues such as secularist struggles against fundamentalist Islam, ethnic & regional distinctions, gender, language, the evolution of popular culture, & political & economic relationships with France & the expatriate community. Updated information on resources enhances the usefulness of this popular textbook that has become a standard in the field. John Ruedy is Emeritus Professor of History at Georgetown University. He is author of ” Land Policy in Colonial Algeria & Islamism” & ” Secularism in North Africa” & has served most recently as the North Africa editor for the ” Encyclopedia of the Modern Middle East & North Africa”. ...

` Deeply impressive! ancient history: the new rock `n` roll.` The Times Julian Cope`s bestselling modern classic, The Modern Aniquarian, is now released in a beautiful new hardback package. Having sold over 50, 000 copies in two highly successful editions. Julian Cope is one of Britain`s best known & most-celebrated post-punk visionaries. In this historical masterpiece, he takes us on an unforgettable journey across the British Isles, uncovering the first temples ever built & their myriad descendants, the relics of which can still be seen today. The Modern Antiquarian is the result of an eight-year odyssey in search of the roots of British cultural identity. Of the countless sites visited, Cope has selected over 300 of the very best; photographing their remains & explaining fully their relationships with the landscape. This book shines a powerful light onto the past of a nation hoodwinked into believing that its history began with the Roman conquest. Cope`s deft prose examines our prehistoric beginnings through the evidence of megalithic remains & their surroundings, allowing us for the first time to reconcile the tapestry of our past with modern life. ...

This work features twelve stories by contemporary masters from Morocco to Iraq. The twelve stories collected here are by leading authors of the short story form in the Middle East today. In addition to works by writers already well-known in the West such as ” Idwar al-Kharrat”, ” Fuad al-Takarli” & Nobel Prize-winning ” Naguib Mahfouz”, key authors whose fame has hitherto been restricted to the Middle East are also included. This bilingual reader is ideal for students of Arabic as well as lovers of literature who wish to broaden their appreciation of the work of Middle Eastern writers. The collection features stories in both English & Arabic, prefaced by a brief author biography plus notes on context & background. Each story is followed by a glossary & discussion of problematic language points. ...

With his infectious humour & brilliant writing style, Jesse Dunford Wood presents a delightfully wacky, delicious & irresistible collection of British classics with a twist & a turn, based around the premise that food should be fun & that flavour is key. Cow Pie sits alongside retro favourites such as Chicken Kyiv & a wealth of wittily conceived, much-loved British dishes, beautifully realised through imaginative photography. Modern British Food is intended to be the ultimate fun cookery book, great to give & great to receive; a cookery book to make you smile & to make you hungry. ...

In 2008, as Beijing hosts the Olympic Games, the world`s attention is focused on China
- yet the most populous nation on the
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China today is never out of the news: from international finance to human rights controversies, global coverage of its rising international presence, & the Chinese `economic miracle`. It seems to be a country of contradictions: a peasant society with some of the world`s most futuristic cities, heir to an ancient civilization that is still trying to find a modern identity. This Very Short Introduction offers the reader an entry to understanding the world`s most populous nation, giving an integrated picture of modern Chinese society, culture, economy, politics, & art. In this new edition, Rana Mitter addresses China`s current global position, accounting for the country`s growth in global significance over the past decade. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, & enthusiasm to make interesting & challenging topics highly readable. ...

A guide to all aspects of cycling & holidaying in Britain during the 1920s, including learning to ride, traps for the unwary & laws & customs of the road. The second section takes a tour of the roads & lodging houses of Britain & Northern France
- including hints on the most scenic routes, how to avoid the busy & rather baffling town of Bristol, & understanding the local customs of the French.
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The cartography & artwork have been produced to reflect an ever changing world but delivered in a classic style to resemble a British table globe from the 19th Century. It incorporates the most recent changes to political boundaries & up to date name changes. As with all Lander & May globes, it has been produced in the same way as it would’ve been in the heyday of British globemaking, a papier mache sphere is skimmed with plaster & sanded smooth to form the perfect surface to which themap is then applied. Shellac & lacquer form a perfect satin finish to this exquisite table globe. It has a diameter of 15 inches (38cm) & stands at 60cm. ...