Security studies

The next stage?

Resumo

Sine e the late 1980s, a series of debates have challenged some of the basic assumptions and tenets of Security Studies. This article summarises and evaluates these debates, and outlines an approach - CriticaI Security Studies - which the authors argue should represent the next stage for the field. It does this by first providing an overview of the realist approach to
Security Studies dominant during the Cold War era, and of the criticisms advanced against it by the 'alternative defence' and 'Third World security' schools. Three of the main debates in post-Cold War Security Studies are then discussed, namely those concerning: 'broadening' security;
'securitization'; and the appropriate 'referent object' for security. Finally, the article outlines a 'CriticaI Security Studies' approach which focuses on the actual security concerns of individuaIs and groups, and orientates itself towards their emancipation.