Islam and Resistance in Afghanistan - Book Report/Review Example

? Islam and Resistance in Afghanistan The book Islam resistance in Afghanistan by Olivier Roy (a French anthropologist) was published in 1990 by the Cambridge University Press (Pipes, 1987). This updated edition of Roy’s earlier work, expounds on the resistance movement by Afghanistan up to the mid-1989. In this historical book, all the occurrences are chronologically put across as Roy tries to give an account of what happened that triggered one of the greatest Islamic resistances in this society. He examines the historical, structural and ideological composition of the development of Afghanistan’s military and political condition. Moreover, he compares the resistance of the Afghans with the fundamental movements within the Islamic religion at the end of the Soviet reign (Pipes, 1987). The withdrawal of the Soviet reign from Afghanistan created a situation that has been explored clearly by Roy as he explains how this affected the traditional orientation of the Afghan society. It is Ironical that specialists who claim to know much about historical events are overtaken by a young man who is just a traveler, but gives a great account of how events erupted in the Afghan society (Surges, 1991). Roy had been a frequent visitor of Afghanistan for quite some time, during his writing he uses both the knowledge he had gained from the society as a traveler, and blends it with his Anthropology specialty to produce a great work. This book explains the Mujahidin’s context, as well as the factors likely to determine their fate. Categorically, Mr. Roy states that there will be no force that can possibly crush the resistance. Roy (1990) contends that the only challenge that was facing the resistance was military problems such as scarcity of military materials and poor means of communication. However, what Roy seems to be sure of is the fact that the political relations of the Afghanistan will determine significantly the outcome of the war. In his account, Roy explains that there is a possibility of either side attaining its goal: the U.S.S.R one side and the resistance on the other side (Roy, 1990). All that determines which side can win is the strategy being pursued. He then contends that the resistance adopted a proper strategy of incorporating the civilians into its side. Although this strategy was not easy to pursue in a society where individuals thought themselves just within their nuclear affiliations, it was worthwhile. Through this, the Afghans were able to cultivate a sense of a larger belonging within them (Surges, 1991). Unfortunately, in Afghanistan nationalism was just an ideology, as what emerged as a strong force were the religious affiliations. Pipes (1987) explains that according to Roy, the success of the resistance can also be boosted through alliance formation among its members. Even though the resistance was advocating for its own independence, it needed to understand that cohesion is key to success. Such groups include guerrilla tacticians who will roam all over the country in order to counter the Soviet army’s mobility. According to him, if the resistance solidarity improves it will win, if it falters it will lose, but if it maintained its current solidarity, the war was to continue indefinitely. Through this kind of reasoning Roy then concludes that through the escalation of Moscow’s fighting, Soviets will be able to win the war and force the civilians to settle for an agreement (Surges, 1991). Though Roy does not directly talk about U.S policy, his work is suggestive of American aid. Roy argues that the undoing of the Afghans was probably the power that they accorded to people who could not even run a radio station (Surges, 1991). In the area of communication, cohesion was equally recommended since young and energetic individuals were required in this process. Underground networking could not be successful within the obstacles of tribal rivalries. The U.S government was already offering courses on journalism to help aid in communication on underground resistance. The accomplishments of the U.S aid could be greater, and that the training could be done either in Afghanistan or Pakistan (Pipes, 1987). The Afghans had no knowledge of modern communication technologies, and this was what they needed in order to monitor the Soviet movements. Roy’s book analyses the Afghan society extensively by tackling the small groupings within that particular society (Roy, 1990). He seems to have understood the Afghan people from his anthropologist perspective. His work can be said to be truly authoritative as it links all the happenings in Afghanistan to other Islamic societies such as in Egypt and Lebanon. In his work, he contends that though the radical ideology has declined remarkably worldwide, radical Islam is still the order of events in many Muslim societies. In these societies, theory and practice are given an Islamic orientation and sometimes violence can be employed if necessary (Surges, 1991). Such linings and ways of thinking are some of the things that Roy outlines as the main weaknesses facing the Afghan people. The way that Roy handles the resistance in Afghan and makes a bit of references to Pakistan and Iran, draws the reader’s attention. Roy (1990) suggests that all these countries have a similar tag “Islam” where things are done in the Islamic way. Being an anthropologist, Roy focuses on both the way the people of Afghan reason as well as their way of organization. Moreover, he carries out an extensive research about this people through literature reviews, in his search to understand them. Through this type of research, he was able to establish that Islamic societies employ modern institutions like politics and science to justify their Islamic actions (Pipes, 1987). Unfortunately, Roy does not clearly show how these radical Islamic movements can sometimes be a threat to their own security. This book is worthwhile to the members of the defense community as it appropriately puts forth their weaknesses (Pipes, 1987). Roy suggests clearly that for success to occur in any particular society, cohesion takes the center stage. People have to cultivate a spirit of nationalism within them and unite against a common enemy. Just like the resistance realized that it had to establish good relations with the civilians by according them the respect that they deserved, people in society should always strive to live in harmony. Roy’s words serve as a motivational energy to the defense community who had only known how to live within their alienated groupings (Roy, 1990). He even suggests possible strategies that may boost the Afghan victory. References Pipes, D. (1987). Islam and Resistance in Afghanistan. Orbis, 31(2), 255. Pipes, D. (1987). Islam and Resistance in Afghanistan. The Wall Street Journal, 13(2), 256. Roy, O. (1990). Islam and Resistance in Afghanistan. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Surges, G. (1991). Islam and Resistance in Afghanistan. Middle East Journal, 45(2), 365. Read More