This clear and concise text offers a comprehensive comparison of national international and human security concepts and policies. Laura Neack argues that security remains elusive because of a centuriesold ethic insisting that states are the primary and most important international actors can rely ultimately only on themselves for protection and must keep all options on the table for national security. The author compellingly demonstrates how a statefirst security ethic ultimately fails to secure states the international community andmost importanthuman beings. Although security as a concept can be widened to include almost any aspect of existence Neack focuses especially on security from physical violence beginning with efforts by states to defend themselves against violent attack. She explores such topics as the internal and external dimensions of security terrorism and defending the homeland threat perception and responses preemptive and preventive wars and other military interventions. Next Neack examines efforts over the past century to protect states through the construction of the United Nations international security system and how collective security peacekeeping and peace enforcement have been used in that system. Throughout Neack shows that human security has only mattered in terms of servicing the states security needs a critique she takes up directly in the final chapters. A range of short and extended case studies are offered to illustrate the conceptual materials and policy debates over security. In this statefirst world we only can choose between degrees of insecurity true security remains elusive. show more