People, States and Fear

People, States and Fear: The National Security Problem in International Relations

Author	Barry Buzan
Language	English
Genre	security studies

People, States and Fear: The National Security Problem in International Relations was a 1983 work by Barry Buzan. It is one of the foundation texts of the Copenhagen School of security studies. A revised edition of the book was published in 1991 as People, States and Fear: An Agenda for International Security Studies in the Post Cold War Era.

Content

In the 1980s, the text had a significant impact on criticism of the prevailing state-centric views of the international system.[1] Buzan contended that understandings of national security should be broadened to address systemic concerns involving individuals, states, and the entire international system.[1] In this view, economic, social, and environmental factors of security should be considered in addition to political and military aspects of security.[1]

References

1. Meng, Wenting (2024). Developmental Peace: Theorizing China's Approach to International Peacebuilding. Ibidem. Columbia University Press. p. 14. ISBN 9783838219073.

Further reading

• Fox, W. Reviewed work(s): People, States, and Fear: The National Security Problem in International Relations by Barry Buzan, International Journal, Vol. 40, No. 4, Managing Conflict (Autumn, 1985), pp. 756–758