Rethinking the Security Dilemma

The concept of the security dilemma engages with the existential uncertainty that lies in all human relations, and especially those taking place in the arena of international politics. The chapter argues that the security dilemma is a more fundamental concept for security studies than even war and strategy. After defining the meaning of the security dilemma, the chapter proceeds to explore its dynamics, giving illustrations from current and future dangers. It argues that if security studies is to live up to its name in the twenty-first century, the complex phenomenon of the security dilemma must be given a central place in the agenda