“A compelling piece of truly interdisciplinary research. . . . Darda poses an important and timely challenge: to consider how racial structures and ideologies have led the United States to a situation of permanent war. . . . Darda forces political historians to reconsider familiar events and periods, such as the creation of the national security state in the aftermath of the Second World War. . . . Darda provides a thought-provoking counterpoint to those who would ignore the importance of race. His book provides another lens through which students can consider the larger sweep of post-1945 history across its political and cultural expressions.”

Journal of American Studies

“Empire of Defense is an important and original contribution to studies of US warfare, empire-building, and racial modes of governance. This well-researched and meticulously written book suggests that permanent war is not antithetical to liberal governance—it is, in fact, part and parcel of it. As Darda powerfully reveals, the empire of defense hides its own violence in plain sight. His book is a cogent and much-needed critique of the machinations of US empire and how it justifies and authorizes its violence in racial and ethical terms.”

Neda Atanasoski, author of Humanitarian Violence: The U.S. Deployment of Diversity

“In Empire of Defense, Darda shows how the idea of ‘defense’ became a logic for ongoing American war. This idea also fueled a racial ordering by defining who was, and who was not, worthy of defense. A fascinating account of the culture of war without end.”

Mary L. Dudziak, author of War Time: An Idea, Its History, Its Consequences