Routledge Critical Approaches to Security: An Introduction to Theories and Methods

Focusing on critical approaches to security, this new textbook offers readers both an overview of the key theoretical perspectives and a variety of methodological techniques.  With a careful explication of core concepts in each chapter and an introduction that traces the development of critical approaches to security, this textbook will encourage all those who engage with it to develop a curiosity about the study and practices of security politics. Challenging the assumptions of conventional theories and approaches, unsettling that which was previously taken for granted – these are among the ways in which such a curiosity works. Through its attention to the fact that, and the ways in which, security matters in global politics, this work will both pioneer new ways of studying security and acknowledge the noteworthy scholarship without which it could not have been thought. This textbook will be essential reading to advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students of critical security studies, and highly recommended to students of traditional security studies, International Relations and Politics. Review 'In a field crowded with texts on security studies, this volume stands out from the crowd: not only a book that explains the choices to be made between the use of different methods, but one that also sets out the politics behind those choices. It is therefore not only ‘how’ to do research in security studies, but what values and norms we endorse or silence in that process. For those learning how to engage in security studies, and for those long versed in the practice, it is an invaluable contribution to the field.'-- Stuart Croft, University of Warwick, UK 'In this eye-opening tour d’horizon, the authors introduce and at the same time interrogate a number of critical approaches to security. Their engaging style, many illustrations and at the same time deep theoretical foundations make this volume a must for anyone interested in the ethical and political repercussions of different theoretical and methodological takes on security, students and scholars alike.'-- Thomas Diez, University of Tübingen, Germany   'This is an extraordinarily welcome addition to the literature on critical security studies.  The text takes both theory and method seriously, locates them both in the context of concrete research, to provide an excellent guide to research methodology in critical security studies.  The book is very well designed for use in the classroom, but will also prove an invaluable resource for the active researcher.' -- David Mutimer, York University, Toronto, Canada About the Author Laura J. Shepherd is Associate Professor in International Relations at the University of New South Wales, Australia. She is author/editor of four books, including Gender Matters in Global Politics (2010).