Critical Approaches to Security in Europe

In the last decade, critical approaches have substantially reshaped the

theoretical landscape of security studies in Europe. Yet, despite an

impressive body of literature, there remains fundamental disagreement

as to what counts as critical in this context. Scholars are still

arguing in terms of ‘schools’, while there has been an increasing and

sustained cross-fertilization among critical approaches. Finally, the

boundaries between critical and traditional approaches to security

remain blurred. The aim of this article is therefore to assess the evolution

of critical views of approaches to security studies in Europe,

discuss their theoretical premises, investigate their intellectual ramifications,

and examine how they coalesce around different issues (such

as a state of exception). The article then assesses the political implications

of critical approaches. This is done mainly by analysing processes

by which critical approaches to security percolate through a growing

number of subjects (such as development, peace research, risk management).

Finally, ethical and research implications are explored.