| A Rock Between Hard Places: Afghanistan as an Arena of Regional Insecurity Contributor(s): Harpviken, Kristian Berg (Author), Tadjbakhsh, Shahrbanou (Author) |
|
 |
ISBN: 0190627239 ISBN-13: 9780190627232 Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA OUR PRICE: $40.80 Product Type: Paperback Published: September 2016 |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Political Science | World - Asian - Political Science | World - Middle Eastern - Political Science | Security (national & International) |
| Physical Information: 0.6" H x 5.5" W x 8.4" (0.65 lbs) 224 pages |
| Themes: - Cultural Region - Asian - Cultural Region - Middle East |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: What has driven neighbouring states to intervene in the Afghan conflict? This book challenges mainstream analyses which place Afghanistan at the centre - the so-called 'heart' - of a large pan-Asian region whose fate is predicated on Afghan stability. Instead Harpviken and Tadjbakhsh situate Afghanistan on the margins of three regional security complexes - those of South Asia, Central Asia, and the Persian Gulf - each characterised by deep security rivalries, which, in turn, informs their engagement in Afghanistan. Within Central Asia, security cooperation is hampered by competition for regional supremacy and great power support, a dynamic reflected in these states' half-hearted role in Afghanistan. In the Persian Gulf, Iran and Saudi Arabia fight for economic and political influence, mirrored in their Afghan engagements; while long-standing Indo-Pakistani rivalries are perennially played out in Afghanistan. Based on a careful reading of the recent political and economic history of the region, and of Great Power rivalry beyond it, the authors explain why efforts to build a comprehensive Afghanistan-centric regional security order have failed, and suggest what might be done to reset inter-state relations. |
