Will undoubtedly be the textbook on this subject. The importance of this book, however, goes far beyond its immediate subject. One of the reasons is that now, as in the past, the Afghan National Army is essential to the survival of the Afghan state. If the army collapses in the face of the Taliban, then, as in 1992 and 1929, ... Read morenot just the present Afghan regime but the state itself will fall and disintegrate
with no foreseeable prospect of it being put back together again.
Anatol Lieven
New York Review of Books
America has spent 60 billion dollars building up the Afghan army. Today it is certainly big, but why is it not more capable? Giustozzi explores the troubled development of this 'fragile institution' in the context of state formation and the successive political settlements of Afghanistan's conflict-prone past. An authoritative and timely book.
Professor Theo Farrell, Head of the Department of War Studies Over the last decade, Antonio Giustozzi's books and articles concerning Afghanistan have established him as one of the world's leading scholars of country, its politics, and conflicts. This most recent book cements his reputation. It represents the first systematic history of a neglected topic - the Afghan Army - and Giustozzi rightly focuses his sophisticated analysis on the politics of this institution and its patrons and clients. This book is both enlightening and persuasive and deserves wide readership from students, scholars, and policymakers of Afghanistan alike.
Thomas H. Johnson, Research Professor Show Less