"Rare it is that a book alters the way we see history. But that is certainly the case here. The canonical account of the civil rights struggle holds that it was nurtured in the black church, with an assist from select black colleges and NAACP chapters. Through careful, painstaking scholarship, Parker shows that returning black World War II veterans played a vital role as well. In doing so, he restores the veterans to their rightful place in the history of the struggle. Consider the canonical account revised."--Doug McAdam, Stanford University

"Fighting for Democracy offers a strikingly new and important analysis of the relationship between African Americans' military service and the sources of the civil rights movement. It puts forth a highly original and fascinating argument, one that emanates theoretical sophistication, strong empirical underpinnings, and analytical astuteness."--Suzanne Mettler, Cornell University

"Fighting for Democracy is an impressive work. Parker makes a compelling argument about the important role that military experience played in encouraging black political participation during the civil rights movement. Well-written, accessible, and rigorous, the book's attention to history and theoretical development is top-notch."--Vincent Hutchings, University of Michigan

"Meticulously researched, deeply informative, and engrossing throughout, Fighting for Democracy is a brilliant exposition of the powerful and politicizing effect of military service on African American men during the civil rights era. It heralds the debut of an important and original voice among political scientists."--Taeku Lee, University of California, Berkeley

Christopher S. Parker is assistant professor of political science at the University of Washington, Seattle. He served in the U.S. Navy and Naval Reserve for ten years.