For many people in the West, Islam appears to contradict such democratic values as freedom, individualism, and personal choice; perceptions resulting from over-generalization and the characterization of certain Islamic movements as "radical", "fundamentalist" etc. In this book, M.J. Gohari describes one such movement which has been roundly criticized and condemned in the West: the Taliban in Afghanistan. He analyses the rise of the Taliban and their effect on Afghan society, takes into account their impact on Afghanistan's neighbours, their troubled relationship with the UN, and throws light on their doctrine. Gohari concludes with a short chapter on the life and views of Bin Laden, which serves to demystify an elusive radical who has famously and brutally, translated his beliefs into action.