Correspondence: Assessing the Synergy Thesis in Iraq

John Hagan is John D. MacArthur Professor at Northwestern University and Codirector of the Center on Law and Globalization at the American Bar Foundation. He received the 2009 Stockholm Prize in Criminology and the 2012 Law and Society Association Harry J. Kalven Prize.

Joshua Kaiser is a J.D.-Ph.D. student in sociology and law at Northwestern University.

Anna Hanson is a Ph.D. student in sociology at Northwestern University.

Jon R. Lindsay is a postdoctoral fellow at the University of California Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation. He was a military officer responsible for tribal engagement and information operations in Western Iraq with Special Operations Task Force West. The opinion expressed herein is of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of any U.S. government entity. The author thank Chris Conner, Gian Gentile, Brendan Green, Carrie Lee, Carter Malkasian, Douglas Ollivant, Roger Petersen, Joshua Rovner, and Paul Staniland for comments on earlier drafts.

Austin G. Long is Assistant Professor at the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University. He was a civilian analyst first with Multinational Force—Iraq's Task Force 134/Detention Operations and then with Multinational Force—West headquarters. The opinion expressed herein is of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of any U.S. government entity. The author thank Chris Conner, Gian Gentile, Brendan Green, Carrie Lee, Carter Malkasian, Douglas Ollivant, Roger Petersen, Joshua Rovner, and Paul Staniland for comments on earlier drafts.

Stephen Biddle is Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at George Washington University, and Adjunct Senior Fellow for Defense Policy at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Jeffrey A. Friedman is a Ph.D. candidate in public policy at Harvard University.

Jacob N. Shapiro is Assistant Professor of Politics and International Affairs at Princeton University.