Contemporary Security Studies

by Alan Collins (Editor)

With in-depth coverage of a wide range of issues--from terrorism, inter-state conflict, and nuclear deterrence to environmental security, health, and organized crime--Contemporary Security Studies, Fifth Edition is the definitive introduction to security studies. Bringing together leading
scholars, it provides a student-friendly guide to critical theoretical approaches and the most important issues that dominate the modern security agenda.

Throughout the text, students are encouraged to question their own preconceptions and to use their own judgement to critically evaluate key approaches and ideas. To help them achieve this, each chapter is punctuated with helpful learning features including key ideas, think points and case
studies which demonstrate the real world applications, relevance, and implications of the theory.

The book is supported by online resources designed to help students take their learning further.

For students:
- Explore relevant security issues in greater depth with additional online case studies.
- Test your understanding of the key ideas and themes in each chapter with self-marking multiple-choice questions.
- Expand your knowledge of the subject with web links to additional reliable sources.

For registered lecturers:
- Use the adaptable PowerPoint slides as the basis for lecture presentations, or as hand-outs in class.

Genres: International Relations, Nonfiction, Politics, Academic, Textbooks

560 pages, Paperback

First published February 8, 2007

Reviews

[Mayim de Vries]

Plain but fine. Good for starters.

Issue-centred perspective incorporating many theoretical approaches.

[Lovis]

Kul kurslitteratur!! Vissa kapitel är såklart mer intressanta än andra men det är mest baserat på intresse. En del kapitel kändes rätt vinklade men det behöver inte vara en dålig grej, beror ju på vad man använder den till. Mina favoritkapitel är de som handlar om olika sorters säkerhet, något jag inte hade tänkt på fanns innan om jag ska vara helt ärlig.

[Michal Paszkiewicz]

An excellent introduction to security studies with thought provoking chapters that give different perspectives on the subject. Many examples and the analysis of them were given.

My main concern with this book is that it doesnt clearly demonstrate how a single example can be well explained by different frameworks. The realist perspective is also not thoroughly explored.

[Armantee]

Oh, how I love politics. 🙃

[Scott]

This was for my class on international security and did provide insight to the realm of IS, however I think that it was only used in class because my professor had a chapter he wrote in it. He didn't really use it much other than a few other chapters. I think he did this only to increase circulation. It was usually well written, but with different authors for different chapters leaves plenty variation. Stan Taylor from BYU had a chapter in it about the CIA and information gathering, but at times it seemed childishly written but in the end covered the topic generally well. I wished I wouldn't have bought it however.

[Andrea]

An interesting read for anyone interested in security issues. But I do believe that if you are interested in ir theories there are far better books explaining that, the issues that dead with Buzan are quite well explained. The third part of the book is not necessary, I am quite sure that anyone who has studied security issues knows a lot about it, and the essays don't offer anything new.But, it's a great book for beginners.

[Petra]

I think this was a really good book that explained the different theories its presenting in a very good way. It's a book that I've been using many times by now.

[Rachel 💚]

didnt find this very helpful AT ALL! was a bit wishy washy and tried to be too general