Abstract This paper investigates the current status of the Afghan economy and presents opposing views on this issue. It suggests that years of war, as well as the recent involvement of America in Afghanistan, combined with religious, political and social issues have impacted the economy of the country. The paper concludes that while there has been growth in the Afghan economy, there are many problems that threaten to stifle the further growth of the economy.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Opposing Opinions On This Issue
The Afghan Economy
Conclusion
From the Paper "In fact in 2003 research revealed an increased dependency on poppy as a way for Afghans to survive. In addition the growing of Poppies has had the impact of increasing the amount of land rent, borrowing and marriage costs (Goodhand 2004). As a result desperate measures are taken to repay debts including absconding, and the premature marriage of daughters (Goodhand 2004). The article also explains that creditors are becoming more authoritarian in their approach, by kidnapping daughters and compulsory land purchases, to guarantee repayment (Goodhand 2004). The inability to repay debts has resulted in a great deal of conflict (Goodhand 2004). The author explains that an average accumulated debt per household of $1,835 was found through the research (Goodhand 2004). Many of the Farmers have two to six years to repay their debt. This means that many farmers are trapped in the opium economy for many years into the future (Goodhand 2004)."
Abstract This paper examines the current Afghan administration's policy regarding the participation of the Taliban in democratic elections. It also assesses the position of the U.S. and the impact of its war on terror on domestic affairs in Afghanistan. The paper attempts to prove that members of the Taliban elite and warlords were allowed to participate -- and even won seats -- in the 2005 elections because the Afghan government has chosen to undertake a policy of reconciliation and appeasement. The paper further shows that this policy is self-motivated, in an attempt by the current leadership to maintain its own control of power at the center.
From the Paper "The parliamentary and provincial elections held on September 18, 2005 were among the first, organized since the decade of constitutional monarchy in Afghanistan (1963-1973). As a result, 249 members were elected to represent the Afghans at the Wolosi Jirga (the lower house of the parliament). What is astonishing is that warlords, including four former high-ranking officials of Taliban's oust government, comprise at least half of the house's members. International human rights groups have accused most of these men of narcotics' production and trafficking, as well as committing atrocities against the people. Civilians claim to have fallen victim, or witnessed crimes committed by them since as early as the beginning of the Afghans' resistance against the Soviet invasion (Kolhatkar and Ingals 1). Thus the question is: Why has the current administration allowed warlords and Taliban to participate in the recent parliamentary elections?"
Abstract This paper explains that Andrew North's article on Afghanistan points out how much commentary duplicates imperialist views of Afghans and Afghanistan as violent, ungovernable and unaccountable. The author relates several theoretical sources belonging to post-colonial theory and others, which help to substantiate observations made. The paper suggests that old notions of Afghanistan suit current American and British foreign policy objectives.
From the Paper "This paper refers to several motifs that are rather old, in presenting the Afghan people to Westerners, as 'other' than Europeans, as found in a recent BBC South Asia article. The reader who is interested in the history of South Asia, or of Afghanistan, will spot several tendencies that render this piece not only orientalist, but a piece of propaganda, given Britain's considerable role in backing the American invasion of President George Bush. The article plays on what readers may believe that they 'know' about Afghanistan and about the Afghan people, with important aspects of the Afghan conflict missing."
Abstract The paper discusses and analyzes the topic of the Soviet-Afghanistan War. Specifically it analyzes the Afghan resistance in the Soviet-Afghanistan War, including the factions, leaders, and external connections. The paper states that throughout the war, the mujahidin rebel forces repeatedly outfoxed the Soviet troops, leading to a war that dragged on for ten years, which many call "Russia's Vietnam." More than 25,000 Soviet troops were killed during the war, and the loss to guerilla fighters undermined the Soviet military and public opinion.
Outline:
Origins of the War
The War Itself
The Players
The Aftermath of the War
From the Paper "In the 1970s, Afghanistan was still a monarchy, and many of its leaders, who followed Marxism and Maoism instead, did not support Islam. However, of the approximately 12 million people living in the country, 90 percent claimed alliance to the Sunni Muslim sect. In addition, the country relied heavily on the Soviet Union for survival. However, all that would begin to change in 1973, when the monarchy toppled and a new leader took power. One historian writes, "In July 1973 Prince Muhammad Daud, a former prime minister and cousin of the Afghan King Zahir Shah, overthrew the government, abolished the monarchy, and proclaimed himself president of Afghanistan." Daud ruled for five years, until he was overthrown by a coup operated by the very small People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA). Many people felt the coup was at least partly supported by the Soviet Union. Ultimately, the group created so many reforms that chipped away at long-held Afghan social and cultural traditions that anarchy spread throughout the country."
Abstract The paper describes the geopolitical significance of Afghanistan to the Americans and Soviets before and during the Cold War. The paper analyzes Russian and Soviet policy in Afghanistan and relates that policy decisions in the United States relating to Afghanistan have been historically affected by the Soviet presence in the country. Finally, the paper explores the nature and limits of the United States' role in the Afghan war and the present US involvement in Afghanistan.
Outline:
Abstract
Objective
Introduction
Geopolitical Significance of Afghanistan
Soviet Policy in Afghanistan
Nature and Limits of the Role of the US in Afghanistan
Present US Involvement in Afghanistan
From the Paper "Afghanistan is a region characterized by mountains and desert terrain that are practically impassable and is a country that has been dominated by the culture of Islam since 882 A.D. The Soviet war that occurred in Afghanistan lasted approximately nine years and was a conflict that centered upon the Soviet military support of the Marxist People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA), the government of Afghanistan and the Mujahideen insurgents that were trying to overthrow the government in Afghanistan. The work of Singleton (1981) relates "Soviet-Afghan contacts began when Amir Amanullah Khan expelled British control during the Third Afghan War.""
Tags: Silk, Road, trade, oil, Taliban, Islam, Afghan, war
Abstract The following paper examines the role of women in the Afghan Society, focusing on the economic ravage which is affecting the women and children the worst. The writer discusses how women make the bottom of the social ladder in a patriarchal society and amid the chaos of the economy the result is that the women are the worst affected. This paper examines how many women in Afghanistan are illiterate and uneducated about the society, resulting in a situation in which they do not know what work can be found and are left struggling in a hostile world. The main focus of this paper is that despite the aid and the pledges from developed nations on women rights the Afghan economy is adversely affecting the women.
From the Paper ?Within the paradigm of this debate has arisen the question of the role of women in the Afghani Society. We have seen the pictures of women wrapped in veils of cloth and not even an eye visible in the roles of clothes. We have heard how women were brutally killed for merely showing a finger in public and we know that women played no role in the political or social fabric of the society. They were the silent majority. That has changed after the War on Terror initiated by America. We know it has changed because the media has shown us Afghani women without their 'veil'. We have heard that women have been reestablished in the work place as the Talibans have run for cover. We have heard that women have been emancipated and given the freedom they deserve as humans. Yet, what we do not know is what effect this emancipation has had on women. What sort of economic conditions the women are living under and how they are coping as a result thereof. (Skaine, 2002: 25)?
Abstract This paper explains that Khaled Hosseini's "The Kite Runner"
starts before the Soviet invasion and relates to the insecure times following this period. The author points out that the story centers on the interaction between Amir, a wealthy Pashtun, and his servant Hassan, a Hazara. The paper relates that, throughout his story. Hosseini tries to accurately and emotionally show the conflict between these two groups of people and the nature of the Afghan people. The author suggests that this book alludes to many of the common values and practices of Afghanistan especially relating to family and religion. The paper concludes that the protagonist Amir's settings were somewhat unique from the more typical Afghan people in that he grew up without a mother, with only male servants, and that his father was very wealthy and respected.
Table of Contents
The Physical Setting Where the Story Seems to Play
Cultural Values That Relate to Customs of Childcare and the Psychology of the Care-Taker
Brief Summary of the Story
The Character Amir and His Developmental Niche
Nature? Nurture? The Individual?
From the Paper "Islam is a dominant force in Afghanistan. The culture has an effect over how the religion is practiced and the beliefs present in Afghanistan are different from how Islam is practiced in the rest of the world. Two major religious groups exist among the Afghan people. The Pashtun and Tajiks constituting the majority of citizens practice a strict form of Sunni Islam. In contrast, the Hazara follow a similar form of Shi'a Islam. The differences lie mostly with politics yet the two groups have always been at odds with each other. Recently the Taliban (a Pashtun group) have taken the Sunni Islam there to a new extent."
Abstract A look at the occupation of Afghanistan by the Soviets. The author examines this occupation from the time before conflict till the time the Soviets fought against Afghan soldiers. A look at the events leading up to this occupation.
From the Paper "The Soviet experience in Afghanistan is like that of many other world powers throughout history. Nations such as the United States, Britain, France, and China have all enjoyed the difficulties of imperialism. One in which a large, broad, foreign force was used to counter a small force of relatively ill-equipped, native insurgents. In each of these cases the indigenous forces were clearly outgunned and out manned, however they proved to be indomitable. Their will and persistence was stronger than any professional army, more destructive than any modern weapon, and more capable than any highly trained soldier."
Abstract This is a paper comparing the political upheavals in Vietnam with those in Afghanstan, how the two countries got involved, and how this effected current events in Asia. The author looks at various regional tensions and how these have impacted the creation of enemies. Views are displayed from the Soviet, American, North and South Vietnamese and Afghan perspectives.
From the Paper "The United States and the Soviet Union had been enemies for the majority of the duration of the twentieth century. They represented the two political poles, divided by the Iron Curtain, with all other countries spread on either side of it. They had gone through a space race and an arms build up, which produced the creation of weapons of mass destruction, able to completely eradicate life on earth. A few time during the twentieth century humanity had witnessed near global catastrophes. But the climax of the bloodiest age in human history occurred in the mirrored regional conflicts that changed the world and brought a peaceful coexistence between former rivals."
Tags: america, asia, current, russia, soviet, status, union
Abstract An investigation of women's rights in Afghanistan. The author examines the rules and laws that women must abide by concerning work, travel and education, punishment and specific difficulties that they encounter such as health care. The paper provides a look at some personal stories.
OUTLINE
I. Introduction
A. Who are the Taliban?
B. Life Before the Taliban
II. Rules
A. May not work
B. Ban on education
C. Travel
D. Contact with males
E. Hiding in home
F. Dress
G. Bathing
III. Punishment
? Death for traveling with man not her mahram
? Whipping, beating and verbal abuse of women not clothed in accordance with Taliban rules, or of women unaccompanied by a mahram, for having non-covered ankles.
? Women have been shot at for leaving their homes without a male escort to receive medical care.
IV. Specific difficulties
A. Employment
B. Health care
V. Personal stories
A. SUMAYYAH KARIMI
VI. Conclusion
From the Paper ?The plight of women in Afghanistan has received much media attention since the start of the United States war on terrorism. This war has focused on Afghanistan because the Taliban government allowed their country to be used as a safe haven by terrorists. While the women of Afghanistan have lived under restrictions unfamiliar to many women living in Western countries, since the Taliban took control of the majority of Afghanistan in 1996, they have been subjected to a series of rules and punishments unprecedented in any other country of the world.?
Abstract This paper studies an article that protests the fact that Afghan women were not allowed to go to school under Taliban rule. It describes the hardships that women of all ages underwent during this time and how this has affected their education for life. It details the progress that has been made since then in Afghanistan concerning this matter. Finally, it details the present situation where girls do go to school but still study separately from boys.
From the Paper "When the Taliban took control of most of Afghanistan five years ago, some of their most Draconian rules were about what the female half of the population could and couldn?t do. They could not go out on the streets without a male relative; they often had no access to medical care, and as this article shows, it was illegal to educate them. In the United States by comparison we have not seen such tight restrictions since slavery, when it was against the law to teach slaves to read and write.
Fortunately for the women of Afghanistan, the Taliban no longer rule, but it only took five years for them to have a devastating impact on the education of an entire generation. Schools have been rapidly formed to begin teaching female children again, but both the teachers and the students are working under very trying conditions. The students must sit on the floor, and few have pencils and papers. They cannot take notes. There are few if any textbooks. So the teacher must tell the students and hope that they will remember it. But after five years with no education, the students have a hard time remembering the information being given."
Tags: Taliban, Afghanistan, Draconian, female, male, school, United, States, students
Abstract This is a fifteen-page paper on women's oppression in the Middle East and how it relates to contemporary issues in the United States. With the coming to power of Islamic fundamentalists in 1992, women's rights to full participation in social, economic, cultural and political life of the country was drastically curtailed and later on summarily denied them by the Taliban.
From the Paper "Islamic fundamentalism looks upon women as sub-humans, fit only for household slavery and as a means of procreation. Such an outrageous view has incredibly been elevated to the status of official policy with the coming to power of the ignorant Taliban who are still in control of 90% of Afghanistan including the capital Kabul. With the coming to power of Islamic fundamentalists in 1992, women's right to full participation in social, economic, cultural and political life of the country was drastically curtailed and later on summarily denied them by the Taliban. "
A discussion on the way in which the Afghanistan government does not benefit from allowing military attacks and siding with the U.S. in the war against terrorism.
Abstract This paper analyzes the Afghan's government agreement to cooperate with the U.S. government in capturing terrorists and outlines some of the loopholes in this agreement. The writer also offers suggestions for these loopholes.
From the Paper "First of all, the strategy will not appeal to the Muslim world. Ever since the beginning, Laden's objective was to dispel the Western Union. Realizing Islamic fundamentalists as well as sentimentalist jihad's in the Asian region, Laden saw great potential for setting up his control center. Why he chose United States in particular because the nation represent Western culture. Its status among trade communities is highly influential. Laden wants to disperse the Western notion that they are greater then the Muslims. He found himself an ally in the form of Al-Queda, set up by Mullah ?. "
Abstract This paper describes the 2001 Australian Federal Elections and the challenges faced by the winning party, the Liberal Party. The issues discussed include health, defense, taxation and immigration. It gives a brief history of the party and its principle goals. The paper includes interviews with Afghan Australians and it discusses the detention centers. The paper describes how the Liberal Party plans to resolve these issues.
From the Paper "The 2001 Australian federal elections had on its electoral list, the Liberal party, the Labor party, the National party, Australian Democrats, the Greens, the One Nation party and other smaller parties. The two major contenders were the Liberal Party winning the majority of the votes with more than 69 seats, and the Labor Party following closely with 66 seats. The smaller parties won the remaining seats."
Abstract This paper describes and compares two works of art to show how two ancient cultures, China and Afghanistan, created small, personalized horse-figures to express the importance of horses in their world. The figures compared are "Quadruped with Bowl and Three Cockerels", at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, from the Second Century, and a Chinese tomb sculpture made between 25 and 220 A.D, also found in the LACMA. The paper includes pictures of the two pieces.
From the Paper "The Chinese horse is also stylized, its pose exaggerated. But unlike the Afghan piece, it shows no humor, and no real movement, despite the fact that its more realistic legs seem to be posed to indicate actual movement; the Afghan figure's legs are four-square and still, it seems more active than the Chinese figure. This may be a function of the function of each piece. The Afghan figure was made for an apparently ritualistic purpose, and possibly not a totally serious one because of the humor shown in the abstraction, the gesture and the mixture of geometric and curvilinear forms."
