ARMY Magazine Recognizes KeyPoint Press Title as Essential Reading for Post-Conflict Operations
"Brutal Catalyst" by Dr. Russell Glenn receives acclaim for providing critical insights into urban recovery from warfare
KeyPoint Press is proud to announce that our recent publication, "Brutal Catalyst: What Ukraine's Cities Tell Us About Recovery from War" by Dr. Russell Glenn, has received a highly favorable review in the September 2025 issue of ARMY magazine. The review, written by Col. Liam Collins (U.S. Army retired), underscores the book's vital relevance for military and defense professionals grappling with post-conflict recovery challenges.
Expert Recognition from Military Leadership
Col. Collins, former director of the Modern War Institute at West Point and a career Special Forces officer with extensive deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq, praised the book as "a good read for anyone interested in understanding the challenges associated with post-conflict operations, or 'Phase IV' as it is often known." His assessment highlights the work's practical value for military professionals who must navigate the complex realities of post-combat urban renewal.
Drawing from Three Decades of Research
The review emphasizes Dr. Glenn's extensive credentials, noting his "30-plus years as a security and urban studies researcher" that inform the book's insights. Glenn's methodology involved examining historical recovery efforts in Berlin, Tokyo, Manila, and Sarajevo to extract applicable lessons for Ukraine's reconstruction challenges.
Timely Strategic Insights
Col. Collins particularly highlighted one of the book's key strategic messages: "it will be too late to start planning for the rebuilding and recovery effort after the war is over." This observation resonates strongly with defense professionals who understand that effective post-conflict operations require extensive advance planning involving "myriad domestic, international and nongovernment actors" and funding in the hundreds of billions of dollars.
Addressing Real-World Complexities
The review praised Glenn's nuanced understanding that recovery efforts vary significantly even within the same conflict. As Collins noted, Glenn "makes the important distinction that the recovery efforts of cities in the same war can be different," using the contrasting situations of Kharkiv, Kherson, and Mariupol as compelling examples of how occupation duration and circumstances affect recovery requirements.
Practical Applications for Military Professionals
ARMY magazine's recognition of "Brutal Catalyst" validates its practical utility for defense professionals. The book provides concrete recommendations across critical areas including:
Efficient aid distribution methodologies
Strategic planning considerations for large-scale reconstruction
Leadership and management approaches for multi-stakeholder environments
Infrastructure and housing recovery best practices
Healthcare system restoration strategies
Demining operations and challenges
Honest Assessment of Recovery Realities
Col. Collins commended Glenn's realistic approach to post-conflict challenges, including his examination of "the dark side of recovery and the challenges of corruption and the black market." This pragmatic perspective, the review noted, includes recognition that black markets can serve as "a necessary evil that can be dealt with later" – a nuanced understanding valuable for military planners operating in complex post-conflict environments.
Strategic Value for Defense Community
For military and defense industry professionals, "Brutal Catalyst" offers critical insights into the messy realities of Phase IV operations. As Col. Collins concluded, the book "offers great insight into the messiness of recovery and ways recovery can be done better." This practical wisdom, derived from extensive historical analysis and applied to current conflicts, makes it an essential resource for defense professionals at all levels.
About the Author
Dr. Russell Glenn brings unparalleled expertise to this critical subject, combining decades of research in security and urban studies with practical insights gained from analyzing multiple post-conflict recovery scenarios. His work provides defense professionals with both historical context and forward-looking strategies for one of the most challenging aspects of modern military operations.
"Brutal Catalyst: What Ukraine's Cities Tell Us About Recovery from War" is available in hardcover ($34.99) and paperback ($24.99) through KeyPoint Press. For defense professionals and military organizations interested in bulk orders or institutional access, contact KeyPoint Press directly.
The September 2025 ARMY magazine review can be read in full at ausa.org.
