It has become a truism of American foreign policy that the United States should undertake military action in coalition with other nations. Under the administrations of both Bushes and Bill Clinton, American diplomats worked hard to broker military cooperation from other nations around the world. The benefits of such coalitions would seem obvious, but in next month's essay political scientist Patty Weitsman explores the costs of fighting in coalition, and comes to some startling conclusions.

Origins is a free, non-commercial publication from the Public History Initiative and eHistory in Ohio State University's History Department. Each month, an academic expert analyzes a particular current issue - political, cultural, or social - in a larger, deeper historical context. In addition to the analysis provided in each month's feature, Origins also includes podcasts, images, maps, graphics, timelines, and other material to complement the article. Origins can be found at http://ehistory.osu.edu/osu/origins/ [the podcast is found at http://ehistory.osu.edu/osu/origins/podcasts.cfm]

Recent topics include North Korean in the nuclear age, the Georgian-Russian conflict, presidential elections in times of crisis, fishing and over-fishing in American waters, Olympic controversies, and the mortgage crisis.