The Past and Future of Critical Security Studies

Thursday 8 November 2012
17.15 - 19.00
Adam Smith Building Room 916

Speakers:

  • Columba Peoples (University of Bristol)
  • Nick Vaughan-Williams (University of Warwick)

Seminar summary:

Although prominent—some would argue pre-eminent—within the modern political lexicon, the concept of ‘security’ is complex and contested.  While the meaning and reference point of security was once largely taken for granted within International Relations, the past thirty years or so have witnessed the growth of a range of approaches that refuse to take this concept and its application as self-evident.  ‘Critical Security Studies’ (CSS) has sought to question and critique dominant conceptions of security, to introduce new theoretical approaches to the assessment of security discourses and practices, and to expand the range of issues considered within security analysis. 

This talk, delivered by the authors of the textbook Critical Security Studies: An Introduction (2010), reflects on the trajectory of CSS and asks what does it mean to be ‘critical’ in the study of security?  It surveys dominant mappings of the sub-field via prominent historical and geographical narratives: from ‘the end of the cold war’ to ‘post-9/11’; and between ‘Copenhagen’, ‘Aberystwyth’ and ‘Paris’ schools of thought. 

However, it will be argued that these narratives are highly problematic and that CSS is a far more layered body of work with messier interconnections than is usually acknowledged.  Finally, the particular practice of ‘mapping’ will be considered and, in a less guided fashion, the speakers will speculate on future trends in the sub-field illustrated in the context of their individual research agendas. 

About the speakers:

Dr Columba Peoples
Columba's primary research interests are in Critical Security Studies, Critical Theory, and technology and international relations.  Within this he focuses in particular on how narratives of technological development are employed within the issue areas of nuclear security, ballistic missile defence and space security, and he is currently in the process of developing a broader research project on 'Nuclear Security: Science, Technology and Sustainability'. 

Dr Nick Vaughan-Williams
Nick is Reader in International Security and Deputy Director of Research in Politics and International Studies (PAIS) at University of Warwick.  His research is located in International Relations (IR), critical security studies, and contemporary political theory.  His work has focused on the changing nature of borders in global politics, and the conceptual problems this poses for theorists of IR, security studies, and political geography.  More recently, he has developed interests in the impact of border security practices on migrants, the politics of resilience and critical infrastructure protection, and public opinion on issues relating to international security.