Security
Dialogue across Disciplines

This book provides a rich and unparalleled understanding of how the concept of security is studied in nine different disciplines.

Philippe Bourbeau (Edited by)

9781107514737, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 24 November 2015

295 pages, 2 b/w illus.
22.8 x 15.2 x 1.5 cm, 0.45 kg

'Bourbeau assembles an impressive array of distinguished contributors from around the world. Together, they illustrate the remarkable breadth of disciplines investigating security, including philosophy, anthropology, geography, sociology, international relations, psychology, international political economy, criminology, and international law, among others. The work should prove useful for students and scholars of security across these disciplines.' W. A. Taylor, Choice

Security is a vital subject of study in the twenty-first century and a central theme in many social science disciplines. This volume provides a comparative analysis of the ways in which the concept of security is theorized and studied across different disciplines. The book has two objectives: first, to explore the growing diversity of theories, paradigms, and methods developed to study security; and, second, to initiate a multidisciplinary dialogue about the ontological, epistemological, paradigmatic, and normative aspects of security studies in social sciences. Readers across nine fields are invited to reflect on their conceptualizations of security and to consider how an interdisciplinary dialogue can stimulate and enrich the understanding of security in our contemporary world. Analytically sharp yet easy to read, this is a cutting-edge volume exploring what security is and what it means in today's world.

1. A multidisciplinary dialogue on security Philippe Bourbeau
2. Philosophy: the concepts of security, fear, liberty, and the state Jonathan Herington
3. Anthropology/ies: moving beyond disciplinary approaches to security Daniel M. Goldstein
4. Geography: securing places and spaces of securitization Philippe Le Billon
5. Sociology: security and insecurities Lisa Stampnitzky and Greggor Mattson
6. International relations: celebrating eclectic dynamism in security studies Philippe Bourbeau, Thierry Balzacq and Myriam Dunn Cavelty
7. Psychology: the phenomenology of human security Thomas C. O'Brien and Linda R. Tropp
8. International political economy: conceptual affinities and substantive differences with security studies Ronen Palan and Hannah Petersen
9. Criminology: reimagining security Jan Froestad, Clifford Shearing and Melani Van der Merwe
10. International law: between legalism and securitization Wouter Werner.

Subject Areas: International relations [JPS]