International Security Studies Theory and Practice

SECTION I: Conceptual and Theoretical  1 Framing a Discipline, Peter Hough  2 The Traditional Routes to Security: Realism and Liberalism, Peter Hough  3 Challenging Orthodoxy: Critical Security Studies, Peter Hough  4 Feminist Security Studies, Wendy Stokes  5 Human Security, Bruce Pilbeam  6 Constructing Security, Bruce Pilbeam  SECTION II: Military Security   7   Reflecting on War and Peace, Bruce Pilbeam  8   New Wars, Globalisation and Failed States, Bruce Pilbeam  9   Nuclear Proliferation, Andrew Moran  10 The International Arms Trade in Conventional Weapons, Bruce Pilbeam  11 Terrorism, Andrew Moran  12 Religion and International Conflict, Jeffrey Haynes  13 Intelligence and Security, Andrew Moran  14 The Rise of Private Military and Security Companies, Bruce Pilbeam  SECTION III: Non-military Security  15 Environmental Security, Peter Hough  16 Crime and Security, Peter Hough  17 The Securitization of the LGBTQ+ Community, Andrew Moran  18 Food Security, Peter Hough  19 Pandemics and Security, Peter Hough  20 Disasters and Security, Peter Hough  21 Migration and Security, Peter Hough & Bruce Pilbeam  22 Cybersecurity, Andrew Moran  SECTION IV: Institutions and Security  23 The United Nations and Collective Security, Bruce Pilbeam  24 NATO and Security Alliance Theory, Andrew Moran  25 Regional Security Organisations, Peter Hough  SECTION V: Case Studies   26 The United States: Seeking Security in an Age of Upheaval, Andrew Moran  27 Russia, the Black Sea Region and Security after the Invasion of Ukraine, Tunc Aybak  28 China and Comprehensive Security, Peter Hough  29 Security in Europe: The Triumph of Institution-Building?, Dermot McCann  30 The Horn of Africa and Great Power Rivalry, Farah Ahmed & Peter Hough  31 The Arctic, Peter Hough  32 The Middle East and Security, Jeffrey Haynes  33 Korea, Peter Hough  34 Security Perspectives on Latin America, Peter Hough  35 Space and Security, Ian Shields  36 Conclusion: Where to Next?, Bruce Pilbeam

Biography

Peter Hough is Professor of International Relations at Middlesex University London, UK, and author of Understanding Global Security (2023) and Environmental Security (2022).

Andrew Moran is Professor of Politics and International Relations at London Metropolitan University, UK, and has published widely on US politics and foreign policy.

Bruce Pilbeam is Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations at London Metropolitan University, UK, and author of Conservatism in Crisis? (2003).

Praise for the 1st edition:

'Viewed in the larger social context security embraces every dimension of human life, yet we persist in defining it according to our own narrow preoccupations. The authors of this book have done a signal service in bringing together in one volume so many diverse viewpoints. In doing so, they have added significantly to our understanding of war and peace.' 

Christopher Coker, London School of Economics, UK

'It has been commonly accepted for many years now that security is an essentially contested concept, and analysts have sought to find ways of expressing the full meaning of that realisation in forms that students can comfortably digest. There have been a number of such attempts. This volume achieves that end incredibly well. It does so through a comprehensiveness of approach and a subtlety of interpretation that will no doubt benefit successive cohorts of those studying this elusive concept.' 

Stuart Croft, University of Warwick, UK

'An excellent teaching resource, written with students in mind, accessible, expansive in scope and yet detailed with a wide range of relevant case studies. An indispensable resource for undergraduate and postgraduate students. If you only buy one book on security this has to be it.' 

Lee Marsden, University of East Anglia, UK

'This collection of original essays succeeds brilliantly in its three central aims: to map the intellectual currents within the discipline of International Security Studies; to survey the contemporary international security environment; and to consider key cases. The book combines breadth with depth, enabling students to understand vital aspects of international politics. Recommended without reservation.’ 

John Dumbrell, Durham University, UK

'International Security Studies is an essential introductory text for students. It frames the core intellectual debates that have defined the discipline by giving readers an accessible grounding in a broad range of contending understandings of security from realism to post-colonialism. It provides a compelling overview of the contemporary security environment and explores a comprehensive listing of key topics from nuclear proliferation to natural disasters. Moreover, it offers detailed regional and thematic case studies as a means of demonstrating how the theoretical and conceptual insights of security studies can be applied to better understand the security dynamics that are critical to world politics. The variety of cases on offer will capture the imaginations of students from those interested in the security challenges emerging in the aftermath of the Arab Spring to those yearning to learn more about the militarization of outer-space.  In sum, International Security Studies offers an excellent mix of theoretical and empirical material that delivers a comprehensive and sophisticated, yet student-friendly, overview of contemporary security studies.' 

Kyle Grayson, Newcastle University, UK

'This is an ambitious and successful book – which is good because it is also a necessary book. The authors present an exhaustive look at security with chapters on theoretical approaches, to chapters on old and new topics in security (such as the intersections of security with religion, the environment, and crime and security among others), to chapters on country case studies. This book will become the standard for security studies courses for its breadth, writing and consistency.' 

Laura Neack, Miami University, USA