Security: A New Framework for Analysis

What Buzan Wæver, and de Wilde have done here is excellent work. Explicitly incorporating constructivism into the analysis of security, their new framework has the power and flexibility necessary to deal with an complex post Cold War security environment. Their most notible contribution here, the idea of securitization, is a powerful but underutilized analytical tool. Well written, the book is of value to students (graduate and undergraduate) and established academics alike.

Brilliant! The securitization framework that they lay out here is revolutionary. They have achieved that rarest of all things: making a 'constructivist' approach useful and accessible to practitioners and laymen alike. ALso, pay no attention to Balzacq...he didn't read past p. 25

Excellent perspective for an old human subject: the conflict,

Interesting

Great

Nice product, no problem at all!

Buzan denkt die Begriffe anders, denkt sie neu und entwickelt ein umfassendes Theorie Konstrukt welches Enwicklungen aufzeigt und Angriffspunkte zulässt... immer wieder eine super Diskussions Grundlage

Buzan et al. argue for a wider security agenda while retaining the intellectual coherence of the field of security as well as including the traditional security agenda within it using the classical security complex theory. They approach security from two perspectives: 1. who defines what is and isn't a security issue: securitization, and 2. where does the securitization occur: (a) levels of analysis: state, individual, international system; and (b) sectors: economic, military, political. I loved the way the authors explained securitization and the power inherent in creating a security issue, that is, how declaring an existential threat gives the state exceptional power over its subjects. This understanding is very relevant in the post-9/11 security environment. The authors' acknowledgement of the need for broadening the security agenda is also well argued as increasingly economic security and social security become as important as military security. The authors argue for a regional approach to security that would allow the regions to tackle multiple levels and sectors of security without compromising the positive effects of subsidiarity. I'm still not convinced about the region argument mainly because outside of the EU, regionalism faces some major cultural, political, social challenges. I would highly recommend this book for anyone interested in security studies.