A must-read book for all those seeking to understand the critical role of armies in the rise and fall of states in the Arab world and the critical role that they have played historically and since the uprisings of 2011, written by one of the leading experts on the subject.
Paul Salem, Vice President for Policy and Research, the ... Read moreMiddle East Institute, Washington DC Florence Gaub has produced a masterful analysis of the complex and critical relationship between Arab leaders and their militaries, a severely understudied topic. Her examination of these militaries' political role should be read by anyone seeking to understand the Arab world
its history, the catalysts for the Arab uprisings, and its trajectory for the future.
Mara E. Karlin, PhD, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Florence Gaub has truly grasped the intricate military and political balance that continues to define the Arab World today. How can we find a middle ground between building strong armies capable of shielding a region marred by instability, while also embracing the necessary reforms to attain more inclusive and peaceful societies? This is but one of the many questions that she presses us to contemplate in this very well documented book.
General Tannous Mouawad, Lebanese Army (Ret'd) The political trajectory of the Middle East and North Africa after World War II looks on the face of it to have been a series of military coups, revolutions, civil wars and failing states. Indeed, the Arab world seems particularly prone to military involvement in politics
Why is this? Where does it happen? And why does it sometimes not? Florence Gaub gives clear answers to these questions, analyses perfectly the role of the militaries, civilian governments and the people in almost each of the Arab countries, and draws convincing conclusions. An excellent book.
Wolf-Dieter Loeser, former General, German Army and Commandant of the NATO Defense College This book is a must-read for diplomatic and military planners across the globe who are concerned about stability in the Middle East, a region with no shortage of military coups, revolutions, civil wars and failing states. Understanding the foundations of civil-military triad
regional civilian leaders' legitimacy, Arab military capabilities, and citizen threat perception
is a critical requirement for the pursuit of regional stability. This book provides an historical portrait of why Arab armies get involved in the political space and provides policy recommendations for necessary reforms.
Paula Broadwell, former Deputy Director of the Fletcher School Counter-Terrorism Center Show Less