....................................................................................................................................3 INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................5 METHODOLOGY..........................................................................................................................5 HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCACY & TRANSNATIONAL FEMINISM....................................... 6 IMPERIALISM AND A GEOPOLITICAL HISTORY OF AFGHANISTAN........................... 10 MUJAHEDDIN RULE: THE NEW WAR ECONOMY................................................. 14 THE RISE OF THE TALIBAN........................................................................................ 16 THE NORTHERN ALLIANCE....................................................................................... 17 THE FEMINIST MAJORITY...................................................................................................... 18 THE REVOLUTIONARY ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN OF AFGHANISTAN...........21 CONSTRUCTING AFGHAN IDENTITY THROUGH WESTERN EYES............................... 25 GENDERED NATIONALISM........................................................................................ 26 THE FREEDOM TO CONSUME.................................................................................... 27 THE OVERNIGHT ENEMY........................................................................................... 29 AFGHANISTAN’S “GOLDEN AGE:” THE MINISKIRT PHENOMENON................ 30 THE POLITICS OF THE BURQA.............................................................................................. 34 THE CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS THROUGH SELECTIVE IMAGERY.............................. 35 CONCLUSION............................................................................................................................. 38 NOTES.......................................................................................................................................... 39 REFERENCES............................................................................................................................. 40