Security Studies
An Applied Introduction
- Norma Rossi - University of St Andrews, UK
- Malte Riemann - Leiden University, the Netherlands
Security Studies: An Applied Introduction offers a transformative tool to understand, analyse, and engage with the complexities of security in the modern world. This groundbreaking new text redefines the landscape of security studies with the following features:
- Policy-Relevant: each chapter provides analysis of policy responses to empirical security issues. This practical approach offers a toolkit to assess and contribute to real-world policy discussions.
- Empirical Application: vividly demonstrating the real-world relevance of Security Studies with online videos from leading security practitioners to show how theory informs practice.
- Pedagogically Rich: comprehensive online resources and chapters features such as 'security beyond the real' and hands-on exercises that critically assess real-world security responses and their policy implications that offer ways to apply theoretical concepts in a highly innovative way.
- Innovative Structure: seamlessly integrating theoretical perspectives with empirical security concerns, this textbook offers a non-compartmentalised approach to theory and practice.
- Hot Topics: placing contemporary, creative, emerging, and underexplored approaches and empirical topics at the forefront including cyber security, racism, and space security.
This is the perfect introduction for undergraduate and postgraduate students studying Security Studies and International or Global Security.
Malte Riemann is Assistant Professor in Contemporary Armed Conflict, Leiden University, the Netherlands
Norma Rossi is Associate Lecturer in International Relations, University of St Andrews, UK
Supplements
On this website students can access practitioner videos for each of the security challenges chapters. In these videos, practitioners provide first-hand accounts of their own experience, understanding and response to a specific security ‘problem’. This feature gives welcome space to the too-often silent voices of practitioners in academic texts.
For instructors, the online resources also include a teaching guide to support teaching.
A distinguishing feature of the book is that it bridges theoretical frameworks with practical applications, exploring the evolving landscape of security and addressing both traditional and emerging threats such as, but not limited to, cyber warfare, environmental issues and terrorism.
The discussion on diplomacy as a tool for security is especially enriching. It highlights how negotiation and dialogue can serve as critical mechanisms for conflict prevention and crisis management. The analysis of military strategies captures the dynamic interplay between traditional doctrines and technological advancements.
This is a fantastic textbook that engages critical issues in the practices and governance of different dimensions of (in)security. The volume brings together effectively the expertise and experiences of top scholars in the field – like learning directly from them. This book is especially suitable for graduate-level teaching and research, and I think will be a welcome contribution to many security studies classrooms, globally.
A vital resource for security studies education, this textbook offers fresh insights into emerging critical topics. It effectively explores security challenges beyond the traditional military-strategic focus, and incorporates excellent contributions from new and established scholars. Educators will value the added features that encourage active learning and discussion.
Security is a core matter of international politics. It also is multifaceted. This excellent volume introduces students to a wide range of security problems and the tools to critically analyse them. The chapters are engaging and full of expertise – a fantastic resource!
New times produce new problems and new solutions. Here they all are, laid out in a well-tempered array and discussed in a highly accessible fashion. State-centred chapters coexist peacefully with more individually oriented ones, realist slants criss-cross rather more critical ones. A rewarding read.
Security Studies teaches us how to think about security in a different way. It is a comprehensive and incisive, yet welcoming, introduction to conceptualising and analysing the pressing security challenges of the day. Security Studies’ distinct, case-study led approach to pedagogy supports learning by opening up conversations and suggesting transverse, unconventional lines of critical analysis and thinking. The chapters are grounded in practical politics and experiences that make complex concepts come alive to a variety of audiences and scholars. Students will love this.
