In States Against Nations, Nicholas Kuipers questions the virtues of meritocratic recruitment as the ideal method of bureaucratic selection. Kuipers argues that while civil service reform is often seen as an admirable act of state-building, it can actually undermine nation-building. Throughout the book, he shows that in countries with high levels of group-based inequality, privileged groups tend to outperform marginalized groups on entrance exams, leading to disproportionate representation in government positions. This dynamic exacerbates intergroup tensions and undermines efforts towards nation-building. Drawing on large-scale surveys, experiments, and archival documents, States Against Nations provides a thought-provoking perspective on the challenges of bureaucratic recruitment and unearths an overlooked tension between state- and nation-building.

‘In this superb volume, Nicholas Kuipers makes a signal contribution to our understanding of state-building, nation-building and the interaction between the two. Drawing on a breathtaking research effort, States against Nations provides us with a new vocabulary for understanding some of the most foundational processes in political life.’

Edward Aspinall - Australian National University

‘States against Nations is a bold and compelling contribution to political science. With impressive empirical breadth and conceptual clarity, Kuipers reveals how bureaucratic meritocracy can undermine national solidarity in diverse societies. This book reframes debates on state-building, representation, and conflict, and deserves wide attention across subfields.’

Yuhua Wang - Harvard University

‘This book delves deeply into an underexplored trade-off between state formation and nation building: On the one hand, meritocratic recruitment into an emerging bureaucracy increases efficiency of public goods delivery, encouraging citizens to shift their loyalty to the state and to identify with the nation. But on the other hand, meritocracy can lead to resentment and ethnic tensions if some groups are overrepresented in the state apparatus because of their advantages in getting the right qualifications. Concisely argued and meticulously researched on the basis of impressive data from Southeast Asia, this book is a must read for students of public service, ethnic politics, and the historical dynamics of state formation.’

Andreas Wimmer - Columbia University