"This is a fascinating, persuasive, and highly original analysis of power struggles within states between the political elite, the armed forces, and the security police - Kandil's 'power triangle'. The subject-matter is recent Middle Eastern states, on which Kandil is highly authoritative. Yet his model could be fruitfully applied to non-democratic states throughout the world. This is the best political ... Read moresociology I have read in years."
Michael Mann, Distinguished Research Professor, UCLA "In this tour de force of comparative historical sociology, Kandil addresses the puzzle of 'revolutions from above' and their different outcomes across the Middle East in the mid-twentieth century. With forensic skill and an informed theoretical grounding, as well as a deep historical understanding of the processes involved, he analyses the regime dynamics of the military coup makers in Iran, Turkey and Egypt. In doing so, he provides an insightful and highly plausible account of the very different trajectories that developed from the initial coups d'état."
Charles Tripp, Professor of Politics, SOAS, University of London Show Less