Abstract:

Lay summary: This review of Alon Peled's "A Question of Loyalty: Military Manpower Policy in Multiethnic States" praises Peled's crisp, skillful investigation of three countries' (South Africa, Singapore, and Israel)'s attempts to forge separate, antagonistic ethnic groups into effective military organizations. The primary concern, in such cases, is that a militarily trained ethnic group will revolt against the state. The book finds that military professionalism is key to creating a unified military force. Publication significance: Creating a united military force from citizens of diverse ethnic identities is a pressing issue in numerous nation states. A unified military is crucial to ensure the longevity and security of a state's regime. Peled's book tackles this issue and provides findings with important practical implications: professionalism is key to creating a unified, efficient military organization.