Alliance Formation in Civil Wars. Fotini Christia, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Ausgezeichnet: Distinguished Book Award, Ethnicity, Nationalism and Migration Section, International Studies Association 2014, Ausgezeichnet: Gregory M. Luebbert Award, American Political Science Association 2013

'Although some may argue that Christia's neo-realist framework is not comprehensive because it undervalues the ideological and psychological dimensions of civil wars, the author's argument is both persuasive and fundamental to understanding alliance formation and disintegration. The author's observation in the book's conclusion that the alliance shifts in Iraq's Anbar province in favour of the Iraqi government (and then against it) have been driven by relative power considerations seems to be borne out by events since the book's publication. Anyone interested in or responsible for policies aimed at resolving multi-party civil wars stands to gain from close consideration of Christia's argument.' H. R. McMaster, Survival