Arguing against security communitarianism

Abstract

Anthony Burke’s ‘security cosmopolitanism’ is a fresh and thought-provoking contribution to critical theorizing about security. In this discussion piece, I would like to join Burke’s call for ‘security cosmopolitanism’ by way of arguing against ‘security communitarianism’. I understand the latter as a particular approach that seeks to limit the scope of security to one’s community – be it the ‘nation-state’ or ‘civilization’. I will suggest that arguing against ‘security communitarianism’ requires paying further attention to the postcolonial critique of cosmopolitanism.

Keywords:

• security
• cosmopolitanism
• postcolonial
• critical security studies

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Pinar Bilgin

Pinar Bilgin is an associate professor of International Relations at Bilkent University. She is the author of Regional Security in the Middle East: A Critical Perspective (2005), and The International in Security, Security in the International (forthcoming).