Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Political Science, 2003."September 2003."Includes bibliographical references.Afghanistan has proved to be one of the most dangerous and unstable political environments in South Asia, if not the world. Against this backdrop, Islamic fundamentalist Gulbuddin Hekmatyar has waged a continuous guerilla war to gain control of the state. Towards this end, he has fought ambitious rivals, every Afghan government, the Soviet Union, and now US forces sent to drive out al Qaeda and destroy the Taliban. This thesis explores Hekmatyar's persistence in such a fluid and violent political landscape, tracing his islamist Hezb-e Islami party's genesis and evolution in the last 30 years. With a rigid Leninist-styled party, Hekmatyar's ability to draw from religious, ethno-regional, and socioeconomic support, as well as foreign aid, has provided him the means to survive and flourish during Afghanistan's enduring devastationby Michael A. Faerber.S.M
