3rd Edition
International Security Studies Theory and Practice
Fully revised to incorporate recent developments, this third edition of International Security Studies provides students with a comprehensive and accessible textbook on security with a particular emphasis on the use of case studies to illustrate theoretical debates. In addition to presenting the major theoretical perspectives, the book examines a range of important and controversial topics in covering both traditional military and non-military security issues such as nuclear proliferation, humanitarian intervention, food security and environmental security. Unlike most standard textbooks, the volume also offers a wide range of case studies – including chapters on the US, China, the Middle East, Russia, East Africa and the Arctic – providing detailed analyses of important global security issues and the application of theoretical debates to major contemporary issues.
This textbook will be essential reading for all students of Security Studies and highly recommended for students of critical security studies, human security, peace and conflict studies, foreign policy and International Relations in general. Key concepts of International Relations and Globalization are defined and explained. Hence this textbook introduces students to the full range of security issues in a clear, concise accessible format.
The thirty-six chapters contain pedagogical features such as textboxes, summary
points and recommended further reading, and are divided into five thematic sections:
– Conceptual and Theoretical
– Military Security
– Non-Military Security
– Institutions and Security
– Case Studies
Specific updates for the third edition include the following:
· Recent developments - particularly the Ukraine War and covid-19 pandemic - are reflected upon in the opening chapter.
· The concern that the first section is partisan or overly-critical is addressed in the new versions of these chapters. A change in authorship of this section allied to the need to reflect on the recent revival of state-to-state wars has prompted a reappraisal of the relevance of traditional concepts such as the balance of power, deterrence and collective defence.
· The Africa chapter has been replaced with a more focussed chapter on the Horn of Africa with a new guest author.
· A new Middle East and Security chapter has been formed from merging and updating the two previous chapters on The Arab Spring and Israel-Palestine dispute.
· The covid-19 pandemic features prominently in a radically reformulated health chapter.
· The full Russian invasion of Ukraine features prominently in a new version of the Russia / Black Sea case study chapter.
· A broader Latin America case study chapter with a new author.
· More focus on energy security and water security is incorporated in the chapter on Environmental Security.
· More coverage of hybrid warfare and developments in Artificial Intelligence are incorporated in the chapter on Cybersecurity.
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 and author of Understanding Global Security (2023) and Environmental Security (2022).
Andrew Moran is Professor of International Relations and Politics at London Metropolitan University and has published widely on American politics.
Bruce Pilbeam is Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations at London Metropolitan University 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
