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"Feminist Security Studies" published on by Oxford University Press.

A concluding chapter outlines a critical theory of security that has the potential to meet the challenges of today's complex world. The conceptual framework is based on the critical theory tradition established by the Frankfurt School & the radical tradition in international relations theory. Four themes that emerge from critical theory tradition are: 1) knowledge is a social process; 2) there are serious flaws in naturalism & reductionism; 3) critical theory provides a basis for political/social progress: 4) the test of theory is emancipation. Four themes that emerge from radical international relations tradition are: A) human society is its own invention; B) politics among nations has been dominated by regressive theories; C) the state & other institutions must be denaturalized; D) progressive world order values should inform an international politics committed to improving world security. An examination of the contending approaches of feminism, postmodernism/poststructuralism, securitization studies, & constructivism is followed by a look at the importance of pluralism & the policy-relevant nature of this framework of critical security theory. J. Lindroth

"Security Studies and Security Policy: An American Perspective" published on by Oxford University Press.

Draws upon Franklin D. Roosevelt's "four freedoms" & Jacques Derrida's concern with the great classical discourse of emancipation to reflect on the key role emancipation plays in critical security studies (CSS). The focus is on the need to rethink the basic concepts of security & emancipation in order to find ways to develop emancipatory themes within critical approaches to security. In spite of different approaches in the CSS project, it is maintained that there is a universal emancipatory concern with freedom from exploitation & repression combined with ideas about human self-realization & community-building. Suggestions are offered for "epistemologically & ontologically sensitive ways in which the reshapings of collective memories & imagined futures can be emancipatory." The related issue of politically motivated & self-serving retellings of the past is discussed & retellings of Japanese & US history are used to illustrate how the role of violence in inter-community relationships can be transformed. Emphasis is placed on the ability to link culturally sensitive concepts of emancipation to researchable, equally sensitive conceptions of existential security. References. J. Lindroth