International Security Studies

REFLECTION ON THE WEEK’S READINGS
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International security studies (ISS) encompass a range of studies on threats linked to inter-state conflict. The historical materialism has contributed to the politics of security across international borders. Herring explains how the process has been achieved through realism, liberalism, social constructivism, and gender. The chapter further describes the major concepts linked to historical liberalism and how the contemporary world has demonstrated human security and adopted the right approaches in securing peace across the international borders. On the other hand, Agius argues attributes social constructivism to international security which is linked to ideas, interaction, and approaches toward security issues. What stood out most about the readings is the ability to adopt various thinking and ideas in enhancing international security studies
The international social perspective summarizes security debates which have influenced various social security perspectives. Chapter 3 summarizes the Kuhnian sociology of science and explains how the political, societal, and academic roles have enabled security scholars to research on the topic. Therefore, the post-Kuhnian sociology of science explains the evolution of ISS from mid1940’s. Moreover, the model demonstrates this by using five driving forces which concerns a social structure that impacts on ISS. These include the great power politics, technology, events, academic debates, and institutionalization.

Moreover, it also considers internal versus external factors that determine the progress of politics and policy-making institutions.
Chapter 4 focuses on cold war and the military thus analyzing ISS strategic studies of International security. It further explains how the introduction of the nuclear weapons intensified the rivalry between the US and the Soviet Union. As a result, the social science studies aimed at addressing policy problems linked to nuclear weapons. What stood out in the reading is the summary of the five driving forces which can explain the initial demand for ISS thus more research into this field.
Bibliography
Agius, Christine “Social Constructivism.” In Contemporary Security Studies, edited by Alan Collins, 87–103. Oxford: Routledge, 2013.
Collins, Alan. Contemporary security studies. Oxford university press, 2016.
Hansen, Lene. Security as practice: Discourse analysis and the Bosnian war. Routledge, 2013.
Herring, Eric, ‘Historical Materialism.’ in: A Collins (eds) Contemporary Security Studies. Oxford University Press, 2010.