International Security Studies: Theory and Practice book by Peter Hough

This accessible new textbook offers a detailed overview of the key concepts and current issues in international security studies. We are all interested in "security". We search for it, we constantly pursue it, we deny it to others, and when we achieve it for ourselves, we relish it. Undoubtedly, feeling secure and well protected is one of humankind's most cherished goals. Our incessant search for security, however, remains one the most fiercely debated topics and to this day we remain unconvinced of the best way to achieve what is, for many, an elusive commodity. This is compounded by a number of problems facing thinkers in the field. As a concept, "security" refers simply to the safety or protection of some entity. The first problem, therefore, is that confusion reigns over whether it is the state, individual or some other unit that ought to be prioritized and made secure. To use the correct jargon, what should the "referent object" be. The debate rages primarily between those who advocate the "state" and those who argue that the basic unit has to be the individual, but that is not the end of it since the second, related, problem, is the nature of the threats that face us. Again the academic world is divided between a variety opinions, with a significant number insisting that military force is central to world politics and that the primary actors are states. However, an increasingly influential viewpoint is that the focus on states and military force is far too narrow and does not consider a wider range of threats that both states and the individual have to face. Finally, these problems are further compounded by what is perhaps the most important issue - defining the concept of "security". As the opening chapters of this book demonstrate, this problem remains central to the field of Security Studies and we are nowhere near resolving it. One way to manoeuvre safely within this minefield is to look at the possible definitions found in the various theoretical traditions. The many definitions of "security" are largely dependent upon which theory is acting as a lens at that particular point. This does help us, but only on a superficial level, since the rich array of perspectives available to us demonstrate that the concept is far from simple. Indeed, its multi-dimensional nature causes great confusion amongst those approaching the field for the very first time. Nevertheless, Security Studies is now a well-established discipline with a rich array of traditions each of which has something to say about the concept of security, the referent object and the nature of threats facing us. This textbook will be essential reading for students of international security, critical security, human security and war and conflict studies. Published By on 2014-12-15