The Renaissance of Security Studies

TLDR

Security studies has evolved from a nuclear‑centric focus to a broader, interdisciplinary field that now includes grand strategy, conventional warfare, and domestic sources of conflict, and its growing rigor and relevance underscore its positive renaissance for international relations. The article surveys security studies, outlines the current research agenda, and offers practical lessons for guiding the field forward. The authors conduct a comprehensive survey of the field, mapping the research agenda and extracting practical lessons for future management.

Abstract

This article examines the evolution of security studies, focusing on recent developments in the field. It provides a survey of the field, a guide to the current research agenda, and some practical lessons for managing the field in the years ahead. Security studies remains an interdisciplinary enterprise, but its earlier preoccupation with nuclear issues has broadened to include topics such as grand strategy, conventional warfare, and the domestic sources of international conflict, among others. Work in the field is increasingly rigorous and theoretically inclined, which reflects the marriage between security studies and social science and its improved standing within the academic world. Because national security will remain a problem for states and because an independent scholarly community contributes to effective public policy in this area, the renaissance of security studies is an important positive development for the field of international relations.