Contemporary Security Studies

Contemporary Security Studies is a uniquely engaging introduction to Security Studies, covering the key theories and contemporary issues in the field. A team of expert scholars strike a careful balance of depth and clarity, providing the essential companion for students exploring the modern security agenda.



With unrivalled coverage of a wide range of issues - from terrorism, inter-state conflict and nuclear deterrence, to environmental security, health, and transnational crime - Contemporary Security Studies is the definitive introduction to Security Studies. Bringing together contributions from leading scholars, it provides a student-friendly guide to traditional and critical theoretical approaches, as well as the most important contemporary issues that dominate the modern security field. The sixth edition has been substantially updated, with significantly revised chapters on Securitization and Transnational Crime, and coverage of recent developments - including the initial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and forced migration - incorporated throughout. A brand-new chapter on popular culture and security provides an innovative overview and cutting-edge analysis of the role that popular culture plays in shaping and understanding security-related processes, as well as its place in the study of international relations, with examples ranging from Star Trek and Game of Thrones, to Disney cartoons and K-pop. Students are encouraged throughout to question their own preconceptions of Security Studies, and to use their own judgement to critically evaluate key approaches and ideas. To help them achieve this, each chapter contains 'key ideas' boxes, 'think point' boxes, and case studies, the latter of which demonstrate the real-world applications, relevance, and implications of each theory. Digital formats and resources The sixth edition is available for students and institutions to purchase in a variety of formats. The e-book offers a mobile experience and convenient access, along with functionality tools, navigation features, and links that offer extra learning support: www.oxfordtextbooks.co.uk/ebooks In addition to helpful learning features within the book, the text is accompanied by online resources designed to help students to 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 - Test your knowledge of key terminology using the flashcard glossary For registered lecturers: - Use the adaptable PowerPoint slides as the basis for lecture presentations, or as hand-outs in class