Security Cooperation between Western States: Openness, Security and Autonomy

This book explores security cooperation between Western states,based on a Critical Realist philosophy of social science and an embedded multiple-case study. It identifies and theorized temporal, spatial, national, and functional variations in cooperation, using empirical evidence from participant observations, state policy documents, annual reports, elite interviews, and other sources. It will be of interest to students of security studies, intelligence studies, military studies, and International Relations.

Format: Hardback
Length: 262 pages
Publication date: 22 August 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Security cooperation between Western states is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon that serves as a coping mechanism and an imperfect substitute for integration. This book delves into the reasons behind this cooperation, exploring the fundamental 'final cause' as well as the material, formal, and efficient causes that drive it. Drawing from a Critical Realist philosophy of social science, the book offers a comprehensive causal explanation of security cooperation.

To achieve this, the book employs an embedded multiple-case study approach, examining the states of the United States, France, and Luxembourg. Within each state, the embedded subcases focus on three types of state security organizations: the armed forces, law enforcement, and intelligence agencies. This unique comparison allows for a comprehensive analysis of temporal, spatial, national, and functional variations in cooperation.

The empirical evidence analyzed in the book encompasses a wide range of sources, including participant observations at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and various documents such as state policy documents, annual reports by organizations, reports by parliaments and non-governmental organizations, autobiographies, books by investigative journalists, and articles by newspapers and magazines. Additionally, the book relies on a score of elite interviews with ambassadors, diplomatic liaisons, ministerial advisors, foreign ministry officials, and military commanders, providing valuable insights into the dynamics and decision-making processes of security cooperation.

This book is of immense interest to students of security studies, intelligence studies, military studies, and International Relations in general. It offers a comprehensive and insightful analysis of the complex dynamics that shape security cooperation between Western states, shedding light on the strategies, challenges, and opportunities that arise in this critical domain. By examining the interplay between different types of states and state security organizations, the book provides valuable insights into the factors that contribute to successful cooperation and the challenges that hinder it.

In conclusion, this book is a valuable resource for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners seeking to understand the complex dynamics of security cooperation between Western states. Its comprehensive approach, based on empirical evidence and elite interviews, provides a deep understanding of the factors that drive and shape this important aspect of international relations.

Weight: 660g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367028152