The act of violence of 9/11 changed the global security agenda, catapulting terrorism to the top of the agenda. Weapons of mass destruction grabbed public interest and controlling the free movement of people became a national security priority.

In this volume, Jef Huysmans critically engages with theoretical developments in international relations and security studies to develop a conceptual framework for studying security. He argues that security policies and responses do not appear out of the blue, but are part of a continuous and gradual process, pre-structured by previous developments. He examines this process of securitization and explores how an issue, on the basis of the distribution and administration of fear, becomes a security policy. Huysmans then applies this theory to provide a detailed analysis of migration, asylum and refuge in the European Union.

This theoretically sophisticated, yet accessible volume, makes an important contribution to the study of security, migration and European politics.

Reviews

'Emphasising the sociological nature of security analysis, this book advances a political-sociology theoretical understanding in security studies while at the same time making a substantial empirical contribution.'

- Gulf Research Center Book Review

'Jef Huysmans has opened up the whole area of societal security to a deeper and more detailed scrutiny than it has been given before.'

- Dr Klejda Mulaj, Senior Researcher

Book Information
ISBN 9780415361255
Author Jef Huysmans
Format Paperback
Page Count 208
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 294g