Routledge Soft Security Threats & Europe

A new in-depth assessment of ‘soft security’ threats in Europe and Eurasia. These threats are now posed by many kinds of trafficking and are being responded to with a range of methods. Experts from around the world are brought together to provide a detailed analysis of the various aspects of trafficking, covering illegal migrants, the black market weapons trade, sex trafficking and drugs. They consider the nature of this threat facing society and the effectiveness of national and international attempts to eradicate it. An assessment of EU responses to ‘soft security’ and a case study of US Homeland Security deliver the latest developments in this key area. Is the concept of ‘soft security’ useful to analysts and policy-makers? Will they be able to manage these sources of insecurity successfully in the future? This work provides likely trends and projections to resolve these pressing questions. This book is a Special Issue of the leading journal European Security. Review 'This informative, largely policy-oriented book aims to offer an in-depth assessment of soft security threats in Europe and Eurasia and the effectiveness of responses to them. It makes a clear case for not only a more comprehensive approach to security, but also better recognition of the impact of EU policies on neighbouring countries and the need for a trans-regional approach to security in Europe. It emphasizes the need for transatlantic cooperation in which security concerns that span the soft – hard spectrum are addressed. The difficulties likely to be encountered in this endeavour are, nevertheless, likely to be considerable.' - Journal of Contemporary European Studies, Vol. 14, No. 2, 273–313, August 2006 'Overall, this book usefully highlights the continuum between soft and hard security concerns and shows in some detail how this can be seen in relation to several soft security concerns in the most fragile states that have emerged in the Balkans, Eastern Europe and the Caucasus over the past decade.' - Journal of Contemporary European Studies, Vol. 14, No. 2, 273–313, August 2006