The Art of Coercion: The Primitive Accumulation and Management of Coercive Power (Columbia/Hurst)
Antonio Giustozzi has written another terrific book. He places coercion and violence within the framework of state-building literature and engages the critical issue of the monopoly of violence head on. His discussions of elite bargaining and its relationship to coercion in civil wars and internal crises, the role of political policing, the political micromanagement of population control, and the origins and development of policing are full of original insights and thought-provoking arguments. Moreover, Giustozzi's mastery of history -- unusual among most social scientists -- shines through as he illustrates his contentions with wonderfully apt examples from the past. This book is a major contribution to the field of security studies and, just as important, is a joy to read even for those who lack a specialist's fascination with the topic.(Zoltan Barany, University of Texas)The Art of Coercionis a superb addition to the literature: erudite, wide-ranging in its historical examples, and neatly structured. Its arguments about the typically ruthless 'primitive accumulation of a monopoly of violence' and the institutional and political challenges of this and of maintaining a monopoly once achieved will appeal to more than scholars. The evidence and arguments have profoundly challenging implications for all those involved in interventions to 'build stability overseas,' as well as those interested in conflict prevention and state building.(Christopher Cramer, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London)