This book grew out of an international symposium held on 19 August 1988 by the Department of Political Science, Faculty of Arts, Australian National University. The symposium was opened by the Australian Defence Minister, The Honourable K.C. Beazley, M.P., who made time in a busy schedule to contribute a thoughtful address on Australian Government perspectives on Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan. The Vice-Chancellor of the Australian National University, Professor L.W. Nichol, kindly chaired the opening session. The contributors to the symposium were asked to prepare papers on specified aspects of the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan which fell within their individual areas of expertise. Beyond this, they were in no way obliged to adopt a particular methodological approach, or to conform to a particular line of argument. This volume contains revised versions of the papers which were presented at the symposium, together with an introductory essay by the editors.

We owe sincere thanks not only to Mr Beazley, Professor Nichol, and the contributors, but to several other people who played key roles in making the symposium possible. Most of all our thanks go to the Head of the Department of Political Science, Professor Nancy Viviani, whose enthusiasm and support for this project were boundless. We are also indebted to Dr Robert Cushing, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, for generously making funds available to support the symposium, and for his encouragement. Sharon Merten showed great organisational skill and personal patience, ably backed by Thelma Wasiliew. For their great help in arranging the symposium, we warmly thank them both. Mary-Louise Hickey has been a constant source of support throughout the duration of this project, and proof-read the manuscript with meticulous care.