Theory of World Security

This book offers a radical and original theory of security for our times.

Ken Booth (Author)

9780521835527, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 20 December 2007

516 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 3.3 cm, 0.93 kg

'This book is a masterpiece: a comprehensive, thoughtful investigation of world security and those who attempt to explain it. Brilliantly written, the book is breathtaking in its sweep … an erudite guide for normative behaviour based on a thorough and comprehensive understanding of world history, philosophy and an appreciation for the multiple levels upon which security is currently both threatened and protected. … a book that all practitioners and students of world security … would benefit from studying closely.' International Affairs

What is real? What can we know? How might we act? This book sets out to answer these fundamental philosophical questions in a radical and original theory of security for our times. Arguing that the concept of security in world politics has long been imprisoned by conservative thinking, Ken Booth explores security as a precious instrumental value which gives individuals and groups the opportunity to pursue the invention of humanity rather than live determined and diminished lives. Booth suggests that human society globally is facing a set of converging historical crises. He looks to critical social theory and radical international theory to develop a comprehensive framework for understanding the historical challenges facing global business-as-usual and for planning to reconstruct a more cosmopolitan future. Theory of World Security is a challenge both to well-established ways of thinking about security and alternative approaches within critical security studies.

Part I. Context: 1. Present imperfect: future tense
2. Thinking theory critically
Part II. Theory: 3. Security, emancipation, community
4. Deepening, broadening, reconstructing
5. Being, knowing, doing
6. The world, the world
Part III. Dimensions: 7. Business-as-usual
8. Who will own the twenty-first century?
Part IV. Futures: 9. The new twenty years' crisis
10. A long hot century.

Subject Areas: International relations [JPS], Police & security services [JKSW1], Sociology [JHB]