Cultures of Insecurity

States, Communities, and the Production of Danger

1999

Jutta Weldes, Mark Laffey, Hugh Gusterson, and Raymond Duvall, editors
Foreword by Marcus George

Examines the cultural production of insecurity in local, national and international contexts.

Genocide in Rwanda, instability in the Middle East, anarchy on the Internet-insecurities abound. But do they occur “naturally,” or are they, as this pathbreaking volume suggests, cultural and social productions? Bringing together scholars from political science and anthropology, this collection of essays redirects long-standing views on culture as both a source of insecurity and an object of analysis.
Contributors: Pamela Ballinger, Michael Barnett, Ralph Litzinger, George Marcus, Joseph Masco, Jennifer Milliken, John Mowitt, Himadeep Muppidi, Steve Niva, and Diana Saco.

“Cultures of Insecurity gathers together a truly execptional collection of essays. The result is a book that will make a significant contribution not only to the burgeoning literature in critical security studies, but to International Relations as a whole.” David Mutimer, York University

Examines the cultural production of insecurity in local, national, and international contexts.

Genocide in Rwanda, instability in the Middle East, anarchy on the Internet-insecurities abound. But do they occur “naturally,” or are they, as this pathbreaking volume suggests, cultural and social productions? Bringing together scholars from political science and anthropology, this collection of essays redirects long-standing views on culture as both a source of insecurity and an object of analysis.

The authors present studies whose topics range from traditional security concerns, such as the Cuban missile crisis, the Korean War, and the Middle East, to less conventional issues, including the Internet and national security, multiculturalism and regional economic integration in New Zealand, and the plutonium economy in New Mexico.

Contributors: Pamela Ballinger, Bowdoin College; Michael Barnett, U of Wisconsin, Madison; Ralph Litzinger, Duke U; George Marcus, Rice U; Joseph Masco; Jennifer Milliken, Graduate Institute of International Studies, Geneva; John Mowitt, U of Minnesota; Himadeep Muppidi, U of Wisconsin, Madison; Steve Niva, Clark U; Diana Saco.

ISBN 0-8166-3307-X Cloth £40.00 $57.95xx
ISBN 0-8166-3308-8 Paper £16.00 $22.95x
352 Pages 5 7/8 x 9 October
Borderlines Series, volume 14
Translation inquiries: University of Minnesota Press

Jutta Weldes is lecturer in international relations at the University of Bristol.

Mark Laffey is an independent scholar.

Hugh Gusterson is associate professor in the Department of Anthropology at MIT.

Raymond Duvall is professor of political science at the University of Minnesota.

“Cultures of Insecurity gathers together a truly execptional collection of essays. The result is a book that will make a significant contribution not only to the burgeoning literature in critical security studies, but to International Relations as a whole.” David Mutimer, York University