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A fascinating foray down the alleys of the 'hawala' world, this book is as rich
in its insights as it was daring in its research. There are lessons here for both
policy makers and scholars, for the concerned citizen as well as the international
expert. If we insist on behaving as 'ugly Westerners', Thompson leaves us without
excuse.
- Dr Os Guinness, Senior Fellow, the Eastwest Institute, New York
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Thompson's masterful approach has tapped into a crucial intellectual and very human
component that we must draw upon in order to understand the nexus of terrorism,
religion, the worlds of licit and illicit finance, corruption, government legitimacy,
and insurgency. She has woven these strands together brilliantly in a manner that
should inform the design and implementation of coherent peace-making and state-building
strategies, not just in Afghanistan, but all around the world. A must read for policy
makers, practitioners, and informed publics.
- Colonel Daniel s.Roper, US Army (Retired), former Director, US Army Counterinsurgency
Center, Fort Leavenworth, 2007-2011
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Thompson offers an analysis which boasts a rare combination of theoretical and policy
relevance. While scholars will find much to learn from her approach to the interplay
of institutions, networks, and practices, her empirical analysis challanges a number
of assumptions that have both shaped approaches to the War on Terror and perhaps
even undermined its effectiveness.
- Dr Wesley W.Widmaier, Senior Research Fellow, Griffith Asia Institute, Griffith
University
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The highly topical nature of the research and subject matter clearly came at heavy
personal price given that a white, Western foreigner was conducting interviews at
the height of the War on Terror Afghanistan within Afghanistan.... Fortunately,
her efforts have been richly rewarded given that this is a remarkable piece of work.
- Professor John M.Hobson, Department of Political Science, University of Sheffield
ABOUT THE BOOK
Trust is the Coin of the Realm shines a rare light into the labyrinth of Afghanistan’s
‘money men’ and their influential informal economy that links the Islamic world.
Hawala is the ancient financial system that predates Muhammad, and provides a vital
key to engaging with many of the world’s traditional cultures. Stereotyped as ‘built
for terrorism’ and a dangerous pipeline for dirty money in the wake of 9/11, Thompson
reveals it to be indispensable to the work and reach of humanitarians, donors, family
members, and the business community. Outsiders striving to build states and peace
in crisis countries will find this book invaluable for earning the trust that is
essential if their efforts are to make a lasting difference.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Edwina A. Thompson draws from a diverse career working with humanitarian
organisations, governments, and the military in complex environments from Somalia,
Sudan and Sri Lanka to Papua New Guinea, Pakistan, and of course Afghanistan. Her
academic work is original and inter-disciplinary, pushing forward on a number of
theoretical and policy debates that have implications for the very meaning of social
capital in 'failed states'.
