From Africa to Afghanistan

the long version

This book documents renowned South African international relations academic Greg Mills's journey from South Africa to Afghanistan, where, by invitation of the commander of the ninth International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), he was asked to help establish a civilian think-tank within the ISAF headquarters in Kabul. This challenging task forced Mills to ask himself how to put into effect the theory of 20 years of academic study and policy advice and actually be able to make a difference on the ground. This is not another book about the war in Afghanistan. It is a challenge to political scientists and academics the world over to be the change you wish to see in the world (to paraphrase Mahatma Gandhi). Aside from the personal impact such reading can have on ever-idealistic peace builders, the academic value of the book lies in Mills's analysis of the challenges of trying to simultaneously stabilize and build a state with massive external involvement while also countering a violent insurgency.