Reflections on Critical Security Studies: A Schismatic Historical Analysis — Chukwuemeka Nwosu

ABSTRACT: The article provides a narrative of the label's antecedents and itsdevelopment, which has remained incomplete since the early 1990s. It provides apartial history of a label. Besides, it is partial both in that it is not and cannot becomplete, in that it is partial in the way all other history is partial. ‘Critical securitystudies’ is the label. Thus, the primary claims of the main divisions set out:constructivism, critical theory, and post-structuralism, which have emerged with theliterature to which the label has been applied. Invariably, the article advocates thatCritical Security Studies need to foster an ‘ethos of critique’ in the study of security,as well as the fact that the study is an excellent example of that habitual characterand disposition of individuals, groups, races, etc., or moral significance directedtowards Critical Security Studies.KEYWORDS: Reflection, Critical Security, Constructivism, Critical Theory, and Poststructuralism