The U.S. military campaign in Afghanistan climaxes a quarter-century of conflict in that country. Though the greatest suffering has been borne by the Afghan people themselves, the rest of the world has also been profoundly affected by the events that have taken place in Afghanistan. This course examines the history of Afghanistan's recent travails and the legacy of the conflict. Among the issues we will consider are the conflict of Marxism and militant Islam in Afghanistan and the guerrilla struggle that arose in response to the Soviet invasion in 1980; the rise of the Taliban and their treatment of women; the role of non-Afghan "volunteers" in the war and the evolution of al-Qaeda; the process of nation-building and reconstruction; and the involvement of the United States in Afghanistan and the implications of the Afghan campaign for U.S. foreign, military, and domestic policy. In addition to reading about and discussing various aspects of the war, its causes and its aftermath, students will also have an opportunity to work with the Williams Afghan Media Project archive of video and photographs. Format: seminar. Requirements: class participation, midterm, final and research paper. No prerequisites. Enrollment limit: 20 (expected: 20).