America's role in nation-building: from Germany to Iraq

Abstract

In Iraq, the United States is facing its most challenging nation-building project since the 1940s. The authors draw lessons from seven case studies--Germany, Japan, Somalia, Haiti, Bosnia, Kosovo, and Afghanistan--then apply these to the Iraq case. The results suggest that nation-building will be difficult but possible. Success will, however, require investing sufficient financial, military, and political resources--and time