'This book will make a fascinating read for any student interested in understanding the history of state building. Gill offers an in-depth and rich historical overview of state formation, and of how states developed capacity and became modern.' - Natasha Ezrow, The University of Essex, UK 'This book constitutes a leading and outstanding introduction to the state. It views state capacity through various prisms - from the deep past to the present, through the East/West context and through to the domestic/international nexus - resulting in a highly comprehensive and very clearly written take on the state that is a must-read for anyone interested in this topic.' - John M. Hobson, University of Sheffield, UK