As regimes and traditional militaries across the Middle East and North Africa crumble, powerful militias have risen in their place. A well structured national guard system is necessary to draw them into the national command structure.

With the collapse of national armies across the Middle East, governments increasingly turn to militias for security. However, a structured national guard may be a more effective long term solution.

National guards are no panacea for the challenge of building effective states, but they can play an important role in addressing security concerns and moving toward more effective power sharing.

A new national guard could help bridge Iraq’s sectarian divide. But it must be accompanied by diplomatic efforts to reach out to Sunnis and prevent outside meddling.