Positive Security

This book explores current thinking about positive security and seeks to suggest a reformulated positive security concept, and to evaluate the efficacy of such a concept in terms of foreign and security policy. Proceeding from a critical evaluation of McSweeney's positive security approach, the author assesses the potential for reformulating positive security in other existing theoretical approaches: the Copenhagen School, the Welsh School, and largely Galtungian-defined Peace Studies and finally proposes a formulation of positive security defined as the ability of 'orders' (security referent objects) to achieve/maintain 'just' values, and secondly tackle the highly contentious issue of the use of force in the securing of these values. In equating Positive Security with the achievement/maintenance of just values, the book, although locating itself within a tradition that is committed to ways of promoting equitable and cooperative relations between humans and human communities, will also seek to pose contentious questions of violent- as well as non-violent transformations. This book will be of interest to students and scholars of international relations, critical security and peace studies.