Khmer Nationalist is a political history of Cambodia from World War II until 1975, examining the central role of Sõn Ngọc Thành. It is a story of nationalistic independence movements, political intrigue, coup attempts, war, and American intelligence. The rise of Cambodian nationalism, the brief period of Japanese dominance, the fight for independence from France, and the establishment of ties with the United States that kept Sihanouk on edge until his downfall—in all of these, as Matthew Jagel shows, Thành was fundamental.

Khmer Nationalist reveals how Cambodian nationalism grew during the twilight of French colonialism and faced new geopolitical challenges during the Cold War. Thành's story brings greater understanding to the end of French colonialism in Cambodia, nationalism in post-colonial societies, Cold War realities for countries caught between competing powers, and how the United States responded while the Vietnam War intensified.

Matthew Jagel is an Adjunct Instructor in History at Saint Xavier University and works in outreach at the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at Northern Illinois University.

Matthew Jagel's compelling political biography of Sõn Ngc Thành, Khmer nationalist and briefly prime minister, exemplifies the best new scholarship in Cold War history. Thanh's career reflects the ways small states both were shaped by and forged their own paths in the midst of global power struggles.

Michael G. Vann, California State University, Sacramento, author of The Great Hanoi Rat Hunt:

Factoring Sõn Ngc Thành into a discussion of Cambodian political history is a major contribution that will advance scholarly discourse. I applaud the author's ability to complicate Cold War politics in Southeast Asia. Adding Sõn Ngc Thành to the discussion requires us to think about pre-Khmer Rouge Cambodia with much greater nuance.