People, States and Fear: An Agenda for International Security Studies in the Post-Cold War Era [Paperback]

This widely acclaimed book examines how states and societies pursue freedom from threat in an environment in which competitive relations are inescapable across the political, economic, military, societal and environmental landscapes.This widely acclaimed book examines how states and societies pursue freedom from threat in an environment in which competitive relations are inescapable across the political, economic, military, societal and environmental landscapes. Throughout, attention is placed on the interplay of threats and vulnerabilities, the policy consequences of overemphasising one or the other, and the existence of contradictions within and between ideas about security. Barry Buzan argues that the concept of security is a versatile, penetrating and useful way to approach the study of international relations. Security provides an analytical framework between the extremes of power and peace, incorporates most of their insights - and adds more of its own. People, States & Fearis essential reading for all students and researchers of international politics and security studies. 25th Anniversary Edition: A new introduction, placing this classic text in a current context, was added to this book by the author in 2007.contentsNew Introduction by the Author 1Preface to the First Edition 17Preface to the Second Edition 19Figures and Tables 23Introduction 25The National Security Problem in International Relations 25Security as an Underdeveloped Concept 26Developments During the 1980s 32The Approach of this Book 34The Structure of this Book 42Chapter 1 Individual Security and National Security 49Individual Security as a Societal Problem 49Individual Security and the Two Faces of the State 52The State as a Source of Threat 55Conclusions: Individual Security and National Security 59Chapter 2 National Security and the Nature of the State 65Identifying the State as an Object of Security 65The Idea of the State 74The Institutions of the State 83The Physical Base of the StalC5