Translations of Security: A Framework for the Study of Unwanted Futures

This book explores how contemporary security practices rely on multiple translations of security, risk, and danger. It argues that institutions of national security policies are undergoing radical changes and that a novel approach is needed to study and address the new situation. Complex and uncertain threat environments, such as terrorism, climate change, and the global financial crisis, have led to a decentralization of security management, with a broad set of societal actors taking on a more significant role. The book examines the many meanings of security implied in contemporary practices and asks how different ideas about threats, risk, and dangers meet with what political consequences. It will be of interest to students of critical security studies, anthropology, risk studies, science and technology studies, and International Relations.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 222 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Security practices have evolved significantly in recent years, driven by a range of complex and interconnected factors. This book examines the ways in which contemporary practices of security have come to rely on a multitude of different translations of security, risk, and danger. Institutions of national security policies are undergoing a radical transformation, and this book offers a novel approach for understanding and addressing the new situation.

In complex and uncertain threat environments such as terrorism, climate change, and the global financial crisis, new forms of security governance have emerged. These forms of security governance have profoundly transformed the ways in which threats are handled today. Crucially, there is a decentralization of the management of security, which is increasingly being handled by a broad set of societal actors that were previously not considered powerful in the conduct of security affairs. This transformation of security knowledge and management changes the meaning of traditional concepts and practices, and calls for an investigation into the many meanings of security implied when contemporary societies manage radical dangers, risks, and threats.

It is necessary to study both what these meanings are and how they developed from the security practices of the past. Addressing this knowledge gap, the book asks how different ideas about threats, risk, and dangers meet in the current practices of security, broadly understood, and with what political consequences.

This book will be of interest to students of critical security studies, anthropology, risk studies, science and technology studies, and International Relations. The Open Access version of this book, available at: https://www.routledge.com/Translations-of-Security-A-Framework-for-the-Study-of-Unwanted-Futures/Berling-Gad-Petersen-Waever/p/book/9781032007090, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution license.

Weight: 360g
Dimension: 233 x 157 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032007151