Brent Steele
Routledge (2008)

http://www.routledge.com/books/Ontological-Security-in-International-Relations-isbn9780415772761

About the book:  The book examines three forms of social action, sometimes referred to as ‘motives’ of state behaviour (moral, humanitarian, and honour-driven) and interprets them as fulfilling a nation-state's drive to secure self-identity through time. The anxiety which consumes all social agents motivates them to secure their sense of being, and thus the book posits that transformational possibilities exist in the ‘Self’ of a nation-state. The volume consequently both challenges and complements realist, liberal, constructivist and post-structural accounts to international politics. Using ontological security to interpret three cases - British neutrality during the American Civil War (1861-1865), Belgium’s decision to fight Germany in 1914, and NATO’s (1999) Kosovo intervention - the book concludes by discussing the importance for self-interrogation in both the study and practice of international relations. Ontological Security in International Relations will be of particular interest to students and researchers of international politics, international ethics, international relations and security studies.

About the author: Brent J. Steele is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Kansas.  His primary research interests cover a wide array of international relations topics, including international ethics, international political theory, United States foreign policy, Just War theory, ontological security theory and international security.  In addition to his first book, Ontological Security in International Relations, he has published articles in journals such as International Relations, International Studies Review, International Studies Quarterly, Journal of International Relations and Development, Millennium and Review of International Studies.  He also has an edited volume (with Eric A. Heinze) titled Ethics, Authority and War: Non-State Actors and the Just War Tradition, forthcoming with Palgrave.

Contact: bjsteele@ku.edu