The State and the Soldier

“Both elected branches seem to have grown uninterested in making political and prudential arguments to the American people, and rely on both active-duty and retired officers to do it for them. Ms. Schake rightly warns that this practice undermines their long-term interest in political supremacy over the military.”
Wall Street Journal

“It is the most important book on U.S. civil-military relations to appear in a generation and, at this moment, it deserves the broadest possible readership… a genuinely fresh intervention in a crowded field.”
Foreign Policy

“Schake’s superb historical overview demonstrates the resiliency of America’s civil-military structure throughout the history of the republic. In that, there is hope for the future.”
Claremont Review of Books

“It is rare that a history book is so timely. As Schake explains, we boast an enviable record of civil-military relations. If we want to keep that record, we need everyone – civilian leaders, military leaders, and the general public – to understand our history better and to apply the insights Schake draws out from her study.”
Professor Peter Feaver

“Vivid, incisive, and rich with historical insights, Dr. Schake has constructed a profound, lens-changing assessment. This convincing analysis will stand the test of time as our primary guide to understanding and evaluating civil-military relations in America. A uniquely compelling piece of work.”
General Jim Mattis, U.S. Marine (ret.) & 26th Secretary of Defense

Kori Schake is Senior Fellow and Director of Foreign and Defense Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute.

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