Sterling's analysis is consistently thorough and thought provoking. He devotes ample time to each case study, providing a balanced review of the political, economic, diplomatic, military, cultural, and other factors that influenced the decision to build strategic defenses. Journal of Homeland Security Takes a rather different and refreshing look... Finely crafted and thoroughly enjoyable... Barrier builders and their critics should all take heed. Political Science Quarterly A thoughtful and analytical approach to an often overlooked element of security... Given the uniqueness of the subject and the author's approach, I highly recommend this book for any course on general military history or defense studies and commend it to those focused on border security issues. Military Review The reader is immediately grabbed by the author's uncanny ability to place what is a historical examination of physical barriers squarely in current political debates, both empirical and theoretical... Chapter after chapter, one is transported through fascinating details, from strategic threats (real or imagined) to the leaders' perceptions and motivations (from the simplest to the most complex) to the decision-making processes (bureaucratic, military, and financial) behind the construction of physical barriers. Perspectives on Politics