Nation-building efforts by the United States and the international community have led to both success and failure, overwhelming support and debilitating controversy. Some are motivated by national security interests; others by humanitarian concerns. They seem to have exploded since the end of the Cold War but in fact have long been used as a foreign policy tool.

What they all have in common is a substantial investment of troops, treasure and time. There is no formula--each operation is unique, with lessons to be learned and trends noted. Examining the history of America's experience, this book describes the mechanisms behind what often appears to be a haphazard enterprise.