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At the end of the deadliest century known to mankind, the world still finds itself mired in bloodshed. In addition to formal inter-state conflict, we see an increase in other forms of organized violence, including ethnic warfare, terrorism, civil conflict, and internationally necessitated police actions. Cornered by these powerful global forces, nation-states continue their quest for security. Theirs is a search plagued by futility since the very meaning of the word security is being eroded by the pace and tenor of change in an evolving international environment more complex and confusing than ever.
The explanatory power of traditional notions of international security, which has provided a cornerstone for international relations theory as a whole, seems increasingly inadequate in helping to understand the makings of global security. A novel approach is needed-one that integrates discerning insights from the study of language, history, geography, religion, economics, and technology, with more traditional understandings of the workings of power on an international level and on an intranational scale.
Of Fears and Foes presents just this kind of innovative thinking by some of the most creative scholars working on these issues today. Ciprut invites us to consider a fundamental reassessment of what constitutes security and insecurity in an emerging global environment.
List of contents
Preface
The Quest for Certainty and the Newer Equations of Security by Jose V. Ciprut
On the Otherness that Theory Creates by Klaus Krippendorff
From Otherness to Alienation, to Enmity, to War: A Case--or Two by F. Hilary Conroy
Power in the Information Age by Jeffrey Hart and Sang-Bae Kim
The Meaning and Challenges of Economic Security by Kristin M. Lord
Environmental Insecurity: Nature as a Geopolitical Threat by Simon Dalby
Modernization, Markets, Democracy, and Conflict by Henry Teune
Globalization: A World Systems Perspective by Christopher K. Chase-Dunn
Migrants, Refugees, and Insecurity in International Relations by Reinhard Lohrmann and Stefano Guerra
The Para-Modern Context of Ethnic Nationalism by Fred W. Riggs
Terror and Organized Crime: Old Fears, New Foes, Newer Threats by Robert Johnston
Globalization, National States, and the Rule of Law by Geoffrey C. Hazard, Jr.
Epilogue: A Hunger for Hope by J. V. Ciprut
Bibliography
Index
About the author
Jose V. Ciprut, PhD, is an independent researcher specializing in international relations, international security, and the global political economy.
Summary
The explanatory power of traditional notions of security seem increasingly inadequate to explain the phenomena of changing global security. The contributors to this text offer a reassessment of what constitutes security and insecurity in the present global environment.
