The Concept of Security Studies

The field of security studies has garnered significant attention from researchers in political science, particularly in international relations. The concept of security is relatively new and has attracted scholars and students in these disciplines, with interest intensifying in the post-Cold War period. This heightened interest arose from transformations in international relations and the emergence of new variables in the global system. As a result, it has become essential for academics and researchers to keep pace with developments in international interactions, which are characterized by complexity and rapid dynamics amid the globalization of political, security, and economic phenomena.

Definition of Security Studies

As a field of knowledge, security studies seek to examine the deep-rooted origins of security phenomena. It is concerned with understanding general theoretical issues such as the causes of war and alliances, while also encompassing research directed at political matters related to military policy challenges that states face. International violence and external threats to state security, particularly the causes of war and prevention strategies, have become central concerns of this field. Conversely, the topic of war’s effects has received less attention. Moreover, defining the scope and domain of security studies with precision is a challenging task. Stephen Walt noted that the intellectual boundaries of this field are fluid, making any effort to delineate its exact domain somewhat arbitrary. Nonetheless, the primary focus of security studies is clear: it revolves around the phenomenon of war. Security studies assert that conflict between states is a constant possibility, thus emphasizing the far-reaching impacts of the use of force on states and societies. From this perspective, security studies can be defined as “the study of threats, the use of, and the monitoring of military power.”

Consequently, security studies reveal the conditions that make the use of force more probable, illustrating how this usage affects individuals, societies, and states. Additionally, they unveil the specific policies that states adopt to prepare for, protect against, or engage in war. Therefore, security studies are established as a subfield of international relations that focuses on clarifying the concept of security and its application in foreign policy and its impact on the structures and processes in global politics.

Historically, during the Cold War, security studies were narrowly defined, primarily concerning military security issues. They leaned heavily toward political direction and often overlapped with strategic studies. The post-Cold War system altered all these assumptions and expanded the agenda of security studies beyond what traditionalists would label “high politics” to include what is now referred to as “low politics,” covering economic and environmental aspects.

Emergence of Security Studies

Security studies emerged as a specialized field within international relations following the end of World War II, specifically in the 1950s, after the onset of the Cold War between the Eastern and Western blocs. The term “security” has been used across various political ideas and literatures throughout different historical periods. From the 12th century to the late 20th century, the concept of security was closely tied to military aspects. Most states worked diligently to enhance their military capabilities to ensure their security and survival against potential external threats, such as aggression from other states, terrorist organizations, or armed groups.

By the mid-1980s and early 1990s, the concept of security evolved beyond merely defending state territory against external invasions and protecting borders and national sovereignty. Security began to encompass other dimensions, including transformations in values, perceptions, and actors. Barry Buzan, in his book “Society, State, and Fear,” argued that security should not be limited to the safety of states alone; it must extend to the security of human societies. It is unreasonable to focus solely on the state as the analytical unit and military capabilities as the means to achieve security. Buzan presented a study that included multiple dimensions of human security, such as military, political, economic, social, and environmental aspects.

These international transformations, influenced by the global security landscape, paved the way for the development of security studies. Key transformations included:

• The collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the conflict between communist and capitalist blocs.
• Economic changes leading to the development of models centered on market economies and openness to the outside world.
• Value transformations (value addition) giving rise to theories proposing new perspectives, such as democratic peace theory, the end of history theory, the clash of civilizations theory, and cosmopolitan theory.
• The negative environmental impacts of industrialization and the emergence of new challenges threatening human existence.

These changes resulted in a new international security situation that differs significantly from that of the 1960s and 1970s. Numerous paradoxes emerged; while major regional economic blocs such as the European Union and ASEAN began to form, nation-states also faced risks of internal fragmentation.

For an extended period, the volume of threats and the level of risks during the Cold War focused on transactions involving traditional states and alliances led by the “Westphalian model.” However, after 1990, the analysis of security issues and their solutions began to prioritize other actors, both within and outside states, including multinational corporations and international organizations. The scope of analysis expanded to encompass human development dimensions. This transformation occurred for several reasons, the most notable being:

• Security issues are not the same for developed and developing countries, necessitating different analytical approaches.
• The threats faced by states evolve according to shifts in violence and the international context, as illustrated by the discussion of energy security in the 1970s and subsequent changes following the events of September 11, 2001.
• Political authorities preferred a broader definition of security to avoid limiting their capabilities in addressing threats to vital interests.

Historical Development of Security Studies

1. The Ascendant Phase

After World War II, security studies began to rise in prominence, gaining legitimacy from the wars and disasters that ensued, especially the negative impact on civilians. These outcomes underscored that war is critically important for humanity and should not be left solely to the choices of “generals.” This realization contributed to the evolution of security studies, which initially focused on the stakes and risks associated with nuclear weapons. This focus encouraged research in this area, leading discussions primarily around the consequences of using weapons, including nuclear arms. Such discussions produced a series of studies on deterrence, risks of military escalation, monitoring, disarmament, and related issues.

According to Mac Sweeney, security studies during this period operated within a hybrid approach, combining specialization with a broad range of topics. These studies were generally linked to the political theory that developed the concept of “collective security,” while also relying on international law, international institutions, and political theory. However, these studies faced difficulties in obtaining information, which was often treated as “defense secrets,” and were closely tied to defense ministries, leading to a predominantly military orientation. Among the prominent authors and thinkers of this phase were Herz, Wolfers, and others.

2. The Phase of Decline:

During the Cold War, security-focused realism predominantly governed security studies, primarily centered on the potential for nuclear war between the Soviet Union and the United States. Concepts such as “deterrence,” “first strike,” and “mutually assured destruction” became integral to the lexicon of security realists. As a result, researchers developed studies based on deductive techniques aimed at predicting the decisions of the opposing party. This included game theory and deterrence theories, which hinged on the balance of power as a tool for achieving security. The deterrence theory assumed the existence of a latent enemy and sought the best means to deter it. While some researchers acknowledged the fundamental role perceptions and beliefs play in the likelihood of armed conflict—evident in game theory—most studies focused on understanding the factors influencing the decision for a “first strike,” while neglecting the roles of diplomacy and the political and economic roots of conflict. This limitation partly stemmed from the adoption of a specific methodology tied to the concept of the “rational actor,” which formed the basis of deterrence theories, thereby overlooking the influences of psychological, economic, and political factors that shape political action. The most significant consequence of this trend was the isolation of security studies from the field of international relations, which remained focused on issues of war and peace. Consequently, security studies entered a phase of decline from the mid-1960s, exacerbated by the realization of the inadequacies of the central issues in deterrence theories and the retreat of many strategists in the United States.

3. The Phase of Revival:

Following this period of decline, which Stephen Walt describes as the “end of the golden age,” security studies entered a phase of renewal and resurgence from the mid-1970s, particularly associated with the end of the Vietnam War and the emergence of specialized scientific institutions focused on security studies. This resurgence was further bolstered in the early 1980s, as significant revisions occurred in the prevailing assumptions and approaches of international relations theories at that time. This phase is marked by notable success in international political economy approaches and theories of interdependence. The key developments during this period can be summarized as follows:

• Easier access to security archives for researchers, allowing them to produce valuable studies related to national security and to revise or at least highlight the shortcomings of previous research, making information more accessible compared to the 1960s.
• The end of the Vietnam War in 1975 made it relatively easier for researchers to study the war, its issues, and the events that unfolded, leading to a better understanding of the mistakes that contributed to defeat.
• Greater opportunities for researchers to publish their work following the establishment of journals like “Aldaffi Documents” and “Strategic Studies Journal,” which began publishing articles addressing security issues.
• An encouragement of research in this field aimed at developing scientific approaches to threats and the use of force to protect state interests and strengthen national security. Academic institutions also reintegrated the security domain into their research areas, exemplified by the establishment of a specialized branch for arms control and international security within the American Political Science Association.

references

1. The book “Critical Security Studies: Concepts and Cases” edited by Keith Krause and Michael C. Williams (1997) is considered a foundational text that examines key concepts and approaches in security studies.
2. Barry Buzan’s 1991 book “People, States and Fear: An Agenda for International Security Studies in the Post-Cold War Era” is cited as an important work that broadened the concept of security beyond just military issues.
3. The article “Broadening the Agenda of Security Studies: Politics and Methods” by Keith Krause and Michael C. Williams provides an overview of debates around expanding the scope of security studies.
4. The book “Security: A New Framework for Analysis” by Barry Buzan, Ole Wæver, and Jaap de Wilde (1998) outlines the Copenhagen School’s approach to securitization theory.
5. Stephen Walt’s 1991 article “The Renaissance of Security Studies” in International Studies Quarterly offers a traditionalist perspective on defining the field.
6. The Oxford Handbook of International Security provides comprehensive coverage of key concepts, theories and issues in contemporary security studies.
7. The textbook “Security Studies: An Introduction” edited by Paul D. Williams offers an accessible overview of the field for students.
8. For critical perspectives, works by scholars like Ken Booth, Richard Wyn Jones, and Ole Wæver examine alternative approaches to conceptualizing security.