My research focuses on political and military affairs in South Asia (Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka). My most recent book is Fighting to the End: The Pakistan Army’s Way of War (Oxford University Press). Additionally, she has as authored, co-authored and co-edited several books, including Pakistan’s Enduring Challenges (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2015), Policing Insurgencies: Cops as Counterinsurgents (Oxford University Press, 2014); Political Islam and Governance in Bangladesh (Routledge, 2010); Treading on Hallowed Ground: Counterinsurgency Operations in Sacred Spaces (Oxford University Press, 2008); The Madrassah Challenge: Militancy and Religious Education in Pakistan (USIP, 2008), Fortifying Pakistan: The Role of U.S. Internal Security Assistance (USIP, 2006); and The Cuisines of the Axis of Evil and Other Irritating States (Globe Pequot, 2008), among others. Dr. Fair is a frequent commentator in print (New York Times, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, The National Review among others) as well on television and radio programs (CBS, BBC, Al Jazeera, CNN, Voice of America, Fox, Reuters, BBC, NPR, among others).

“Cuisines of the Axis of Evil is laugh-out-loud-funny; a shrewd primer on some of the more unsavory regimes the world has to offer, and a savory rendering of their cookery. Chris Fair by turns channels Richard Holbrooke, Steven Colbert, and Elizabeth David as she whisks up up a truly original contribution in the field of international relations and cook books.”—Peter Bergen, author of The Osama bin Laden I Know

Why I went back....I will never understand. During my two-year return to the BLAND corporation, I was tortured by the circus of asshatery that it is. I took a huge pay cut to salvage my soul, integrity, marriage and general joi de flipping vivre. There is diminishing marginal value of cash....not to happiness!

I edited and co-authored UNAMA's comprehensive analysis of suicide bombing in Afghanistan. (This is available at my website: www.christinefair.net). This involved traveling throughout Afghanistan, interviewing UN staff in field offices, international military and intelligence officials, as well as Afghan intelligence and police officials. I also had the opportunity to engage with a failed suicide attacker from a neighboring country while conducting interviews in Herat.

I oversaw USIP's research portfolio on Bangladesh, Pakistan and other terrorism-related issues in South Asia. I was also the key researcher executing studies in these areas. My publications included a book on internal security reform in Pakistan and another exploring the connections between education and militancy and Pakistan. I also oversaw important survey work in Iran and Pakistan. For a list of publications, see christinefair.net.

My research at RAND included a variety of issues germane to South Asia security including an examination of Indo-Pakistan security competition under the nuclear umbrella, analysis of U.S. cooperation with India and Pakistan in the context of the global war on terrorism, an assessment of how India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have dealt with insurgency in urban environs, given their constrained resources. For a complete listing of work and publications, see christinefair.net. In addition to this South Asia-related research, I worked on military recruitment, retention and compensation.