Identifying the Postmodern/Cold War Interlock— Soliciting a Security Studies Pedagogy Au Courant

Document Type

Article

Authors

Michael R. McRill, Pepperdine University

Abstract

One scholarly faction contends that the arenas of security studies and international politics have remained essentially the same post-World War II. The other sees the 1960s as illuminating a fundamental paradigm shift concerning security studies. The latter group asserts that the majority of security concerns has either been dropped or sharply shifted post-Cold War. Since then, studies have expanded to encompass a scholarly plea for broader definitions of national security. The advent and increase of nonmilitary threats has led many to argue that these threats must be considered within the arena of national security concerns, and other scholars assert that domestic issues must be incorporated into the national security agenda as well. Given certain post World War II changes, a new perspective is needed to identify how language, culture, psychology, geography, technology, sociology, economics, force, power, strategy, rhetoric and entertainment contribute to scenarios that may lead to war. The integration of various disciplines, technologies and views is required to decenter the securities scholar and broaden the domain of inquiry. Cultural and historical context must be expanded beyond their traditional Western focus and prevailing notions of rationality and reality must be suspended along with current normative presumptions. Thus, the security scholar is charged with the task of defining and redefining the dimensions that are present within security.

Recommended Citation

McRill, Michael R. (2009) "Identifying the Postmodern/Cold War Interlock— Soliciting a Security Studies Pedagogy Au Courant," Global Tides: Vol. 3, Article 3.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/globaltides/vol3/iss1/3