Of Fears and Foes: Security and Insecurity in an Evolving Global Political Economy

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.

Table 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, Ph.D. is an independent researcher specializing in international relations, regional security, and the global political economy.

Review :
.,."should prove a useful collection for promoting thinking across the great divide in the study of international relations....particularly useful for teaching."-The International History Review ?...should prove a useful collection for promoting thinking across the great divide in the study of international relations....particularly useful for teaching.?-The International History Review ..."should prove a useful collection for promoting thinking across the great divide in the study of international relations....particularly useful for teaching."-The International History Review