What happens when a government is overthrown? How is a new governing body developed? Finally, which rights of the people need to be preserved in the process of state building? Dr. Zakia Afrin's book Transitional Authority in Iraq: Legitimacy, Governance and Potential Contribution to the Progressive Development of International Law, addresses these issues in the case of post conflict Iraq's developing governing body. The analysis focuses on the composition, legal authority, and effectiveness of the transitional powers in Iraq. A key point of focus is the development of the people's rights during the new government's formation. However, this book balances its analysis by pointing out the degradation of many human rights in Iraq, especially women's rights. Dr. Afrin's analysis and conclusions are practically applicable to future instances of new governance development as well as meriting study by comparative legal scholars. The book includes a reprint of the Law of the Administration for the State of Iraq for the Transitional Period, 2004. About the author: Zakia Afrin is an adjunct professor of Law at Golden Gate University in San Francisco. An alumnus of the Hague Academy of International law, Dr. Afrin has an LL.B from Dhaka University in Bangladesh, LL.M and an SJD specializing in public international law from Golden Gate University. She has numerous academic publications in the fields of post conflict governance, international criminal court, and women's human rights. Zakia is cofounder of the Southern Governance Reporting Group, a think tank analyzing governance in developing countries in the fields of energy, environment, minority issues and conflict resolution.