Ballots, Bullets & Kabulshit: An Afghan Election: Penguin Special

An Afghan Election: Penguin Special

Nonfiction, Social & Cultural Studies, Political Science, International, International Relations
Cover of the book Ballots, Bullets & Kabulshit: An Afghan Election: Penguin Special by Toby Ralph, Penguin Random House Australia
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Author: Toby Ralph ISBN: 9781742537108
Publisher: Penguin Random House Australia Publication: July 16, 2012
Imprint: Penguin eBooks Language: English
Author: Toby Ralph
ISBN: 9781742537108
Publisher: Penguin Random House Australia
Publication: July 16, 2012
Imprint: Penguin eBooks
Language: English

Ahead of the 2009 presidential elections in Afghanistan, Australian electoral adviser and Gruen Planet panellist Toby Ralph joined a UN team to assist local authorities unused to free and fair democratic processes - and in some cases, not keen on adopting them. Amid the 'War on Terror', resistance ranged from corruption and bureaucratic ineptitude to lethal violence.

Ralph's diarised account is a rare glimpse into the day-to-day experiences of those charged with delivering the freedom and democracy Western leaders promise the disenfranchised. With the wry humour of a seasoned politico (or someone trying to distract themselves from the very real dangers of their situation), he provides snapshots of life in Kabul, a primer in the political shambles of a failing state, and the reflections of a non-combatant working in a war zone in a suit and tie. He is whisked between meetings in armoured cars, tries to avoid sitting on the AK-47 down the back of the couch at his lodgings, dines with colleagues in sandbagged candlelit restaurants, and attempts to convince the Electoral Commission chairman - and friend of President Hamid Karzai - that having an election is a good idea.

That the poll ended in farce, with Karzai's reinstatement by default, means the UN will be sending another group of advisers when next an election is reluctantly called.

'Forthright and darkly humorous ... [Ralph] provides a bleakly intriguing, occasionally absurdist take on the latest in a long line of fraught attempts by outsiders to influence this war-torn country.' Canberra Times

'Written in a flowing, irreverent style that takes no prisoners.' Weekend Gold Coast Bulletin

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Ahead of the 2009 presidential elections in Afghanistan, Australian electoral adviser and Gruen Planet panellist Toby Ralph joined a UN team to assist local authorities unused to free and fair democratic processes - and in some cases, not keen on adopting them. Amid the 'War on Terror', resistance ranged from corruption and bureaucratic ineptitude to lethal violence.

Ralph's diarised account is a rare glimpse into the day-to-day experiences of those charged with delivering the freedom and democracy Western leaders promise the disenfranchised. With the wry humour of a seasoned politico (or someone trying to distract themselves from the very real dangers of their situation), he provides snapshots of life in Kabul, a primer in the political shambles of a failing state, and the reflections of a non-combatant working in a war zone in a suit and tie. He is whisked between meetings in armoured cars, tries to avoid sitting on the AK-47 down the back of the couch at his lodgings, dines with colleagues in sandbagged candlelit restaurants, and attempts to convince the Electoral Commission chairman - and friend of President Hamid Karzai - that having an election is a good idea.

That the poll ended in farce, with Karzai's reinstatement by default, means the UN will be sending another group of advisers when next an election is reluctantly called.

'Forthright and darkly humorous ... [Ralph] provides a bleakly intriguing, occasionally absurdist take on the latest in a long line of fraught attempts by outsiders to influence this war-torn country.' Canberra Times

'Written in a flowing, irreverent style that takes no prisoners.' Weekend Gold Coast Bulletin

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