A victory to fear or a source of hope?

Article Abstract:

The increasing military and political dominance of the Islamic fundamentalist organization Taliban in Afghanistan is opposed by Central Asian nations who fear that a Taliban victory would destabilize the entire region. The reunification of Afghanistan under a stable Taliban regime, however, could actually prove beneficial to the Central Asian states. Taliban military successes in Afghanistan have already fostered peace negotiations in Tajikistan's civil war. A reunified Afghanistan also provides Central Asia with an alternative trade route, bypassing Russia and Iran, that could spur foreign investment.

International relations, Afghan foreign relations, Afghanistan, Military aspects, Tajikistan, Central Asia, Taliban

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The West and post-Khomeini Iran

Article Abstract:

Lumping all Islamic countries under the rubric of Islamic fundamentalism amounts to a simplistic portrayal of a large and diverse region. Islamic movements which have gained popularity since the 1970s had indigenous roots and responded to different national conditions. A number of Islamic movements have evolved. Iran realizes it exists in a pluralist Moslem world and its economic problems are too great to allow a push for paramountcy in the region. Thus, fears that Islamic movements form a regional front in opposition to the West are simplistic and unwarranted.

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Factionalism in Iran

Article Abstract:

Iran has not had a comprehensive authority since the 1979 revolution, and in this absence, several factions have developed: the Liberals, the Hezbollah, the Pragmatists, the Right Wing, and the Left Wing. The liberals now represent the Freedom Movement of Iran but do not exert much influence. The Hezbollah's base is lower urban classes and its mission is social justice. The Pragmatists, an intellectual group which appeals to the urban middle classes, favor a Populist government run by bureaucrats and clergy.

Social aspects, Political party platforms

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