This book represents three decades of Perlmutter's experiences and observations. The author studies the relationship between the military and politics in Middle East, focusing mainly on Egypt as a case study. He concludes by analysing the effect this internal relationship has on military performance.

1: The Praetorian Army and the Praetorian State; 2: The Birth of a New Class; 3: Egypt and the Myth of the New Middle Class; 4: Reaffirmations and New Explorations; 5: The Myth of the Myth; 6: The Syrian Military and the Ba'th Party; 7: The Arab Military Elite *; 8: Experiments in Praetorianism; 9: Political Power and Social Cohesion in Nasser's Egypt; 10: Perspectives on Praetorianism; 11: Military Incompetence and Failure