With a rich comparative case-study approach that spans Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, Building Militaries in Fragile States unearths provocative findings that suggest the traditional way of working with foreign militaries needs to be rethought.

Mara E. Karlin teaches strategic studies at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies. Previously she served as a senior policymaker at the Pentagon, leading long-term defense strategy, building the future U.S. military, and formulating key national security policies, particularly focused on the Middle East, Asia, and Europe.