Contemporary Security Studies is the definitive introduction to Security Studies, with unrivalled coverage of a wide range of issues - from terrorism, inter-state conflict and nuclear deterrence, to environmental security, health, and transnational crime. 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 eBook offers a mobile experience and convenient access, along with functionality tools, navigation features, and links that offer extra learning support. Purchase the eBook on VitalSource.

KEY FEATURES

• Offers broad, easy-to-digest coverage of all of the key theories and concepts in Security Studies
• Brings together carefully edited contributions from international experts in the field, giving students insights from a range of leading scholars
• 'Think point' boxes challenge students to question their own assumptions, and help to develop critical thinking skills
• Case study boxes encourage students to connect theory and practice by demonstrating the real-world manifestations of political issues
• Includes coverage of critical Security Studies perspectives, including poststructuralism and postcolonialism
• Considers a broad range of traditional and non-traditional security issues, from inter-state armed conflict and nuclear weapons, to security issues centring on the environment, crime and cyber-attacks
• Available as an eBook with functionality, navigation features, and links that offer extra learning support.

1: Introduction

Part 1: Approaches to Security
2: Charles L. Glaser: Realism
3: Patrick Morgan, with Alan Collins: Liberalism and Liberal Internationalism
4: Eric Herring: Historical Materialism
5: Paul Rogers: Peace Studies
6: Christine Agius: Social Constructivism
7: David Mutimer, with Derek Verbakel: Critical Security Studies: A Schismatic History
8: Marshall Beier: Critical Security Studies II - Narratives of Security: Other Stories, Other Actors
9: Mark Laffey and Suthaharan Nadarajah: Postcolonialism
10: Randolph B. Persaud: Human Security
11: Caroline Kennedy and Sophia Dingli: Gender
12: Catarina Thomson and Stephane Baele: Securitization
13: Galia Press-Barnathan: Popular Culture

Part 2: Deepening and Broadening Security
14: Mike Sheehan: Military Security
15: Andreas Krieg: Regime Security
16: Paul Roe: Societal Security
17: Geoffrey Dabelko: Environmental Security
18: Gary Shiffman: Economic Security
19: Nana K. Poku and Jacqueline Therkelsen: Development and Security

Part 3: Traditional and Non-Traditional Security
20: Peter Viggo Jakobsen: Coercive Diplomacy: Countering War-Threatening Crimes and Armed Conflicts
21: James J. Wirtz: Weapons of Mass Destruction and Proliferation
22: James Lutz and Brenda Lutz: Terrorism
23: Alex Bellamy and Stephen McLoughlin: Humanitarian Intervention
24: Doug Stokes and Sam Raphael: Energy Security
25: Suzette Grillot: The Weapons Trade
26: Stefan Elbe and Eva Hilberg: Health
27: Nathan Jones: Transnational Crime
28: Myriam Dunn Cavelty: Cyber-security
29: Barry Buzan and Ole Wæver: Security Studies Past, Present & Future

Alan Collins is a Professor in International Relations at Swansea University.

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.

• 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

Lecturer's that adopt Contemporary Security Studies for their course will have access to adaptable PowerPoint slides to use as the basis for lecture presentations or as hand-outs in class.