Building the Nation argues that the U.S. led efforts to "nation build" in both Iraq and Afghanistan focused more on what should be called "state building."

Bringing the nation back into nation building -- States, nations, nationalism and national unity -- State and nation building in Europe and the United States -- State building programs post September 11th -- State building in Iraq : 2003-2011 -- Counterfactual state and nation building in Iraq -- State building in Afghanistan : 2001-2015 -- Counterfactual state and nation building in Afghanistan -- A program for population centric state and nation building.