Showing papers by "Christian Bueger published in 2015"
TL;DR: This article proposes three frameworks by which one can identify commonalities and disagreements in maritime security, and suggests that security practice theory enables the study of what actors actually do when they claim to enhance maritime security.
241 citations
TL;DR: The core claims of the practice turn in International Relations (IR) remain ambiguous as discussed by the authors, and it is worth noting that practice approaches entail a distinctive view on the drivers of social relations, arguing against individualistic-interest and norm-based actor models.
Abstract: The core claims of the practice turn in International Relations (IR) remain ambiguous. What promises does international practice theory hold for the field? How does the kind of theorizing it produces differ from existing perspectives? What kind of research agenda does it produce? This article addresses these questions. Drawing on the work of Andreas Reckwitz, we show that practice approaches entail a distinctive view on the drivers of social relations. Practice theories argue against individualistic-interest and norm-based actor models. They situate knowledge in practice rather than “mental frames” or “discourse.” Practice approaches focus on how groups perform their practical activities in world politics to renew and reproduce social order. They therefore overcome familiar dualisms—agents and structures, subjects and objects, and ideational and material—that plague IR theory. Practice theories are a heterogeneous family, but, as we argue, share a range of core commitments. Realizing the promise of the practice turn requires considering the full spectrum of its approaches. However, the field primarily draws on trajectories in international practice theory that emphasize reproduction and hierarchies. It should pay greater attention to practice approaches rooted in pragmatism and that emphasize contingency and change. We conclude with an outline of core challenges that the future agenda of international practice theory must tackle.
178 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors introduce the concepts of epistemic infrastructures, epistemic practice, and laboratories and demonstrate how they facilitate interesting insights on knowledge generation in international relations.
Abstract: How are international phenomena rendered knowable? By which means and practical devices is international knowledge generated? In this article, I draw on the case of contemporary maritime piracy to introduce a research framework that allows these questions to be addressed. Arguing that the practices of international knowledge generation are poorly understood, I show how concepts from science and technology studies provide the tools to study these practices empirically. Relying on the practice theory of Karin Knorr Cetina, I introduce the concepts of epistemic infrastructures, epistemic practice, and laboratories and demonstrate how they facilitate interesting insights on knowledge generation. I investigate three “archetypes” of epistemic practices in detail and show how these generate knowledge about piracy for the United Nations. The three archetypes are the quantification practices of the International Maritime Organization, the interpretation work of a monitoring group and the network of a special adviser. The article introduces an innovative agenda for studying knowledge generation in international relations by focusing on the practical epistemic infrastructures, which maintain knowledge about international phenomena.
106 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors revisited the triggers of piracy and argued for the need of being cautious since the current success in curbing piracy might not be sustainable and future efforts will be necessary to increase the quality and efficiency of maritime security governance.
Abstract: Is the decade of large scale piracy off the coast of Somali over? What are the lessons from
Somali piracy for maritime security governance? This article revisits the triggers of piracy and argues
for the need of being cautious since the current success in curbing piracy might not be sustainable. An
analysis of the rise and decline of piracy provides an explanation of why the international measures
show success, but document that it is questionable if these will contain piracy in the long run.
Studying the decline of Somali piracy reveals the importance of learning some major lessons for reevaluating
the importance and character of maritime security. Future efforts will be necessary to
increase the quality and efficiency of maritime security governance.
33 citations
10 Apr 2015
TL;DR: This chapter discusses security expertise in the context of the current security environment, which has seen an increase in the number of terror attacks and the need for awareness of the role of expert opinion in these events.
Abstract: 1 Security Expertise: An Introduction, Trine Villumsen Berling & Christian Bueger 2 What is Expertise? Technical Knowledge and Political Judgment, Robert Evans 3 What is Security Expertise? From a Sociology of Professions to the Analysis of Networks of Expertise, Gil Eyal and Grace Pok 4 In Defence of Security, Thomas Osborne 5 The History and Social Structure of Security Studies as a Practico-Academic Field, Ole Waever 6 Think Tanks in Security and International Affairs, James McGann 7 Producing Knowledge for the Military: Experts and Amateurs in the National Security Community, Judith Reppy 8 Contesting Human Security Expertise: Technical Practices in Reconfiguring International Security, Saul Halfon 9 Problematic Knowledge: How "Terrorism" Resists Expertise, Lisa Stampnitzky 10 On Wolfs, Squirrels and Pandas: The Characters of Strategy Experts, Mikkel Vedby Rasmussen 11 On How To Be a Collective Intellectual - Critical Terrorism Studies and the Countering of Hegemonic Discourse, Richard Jackson 12 Ethics, Expertise and Human Terrain, Hugh Gusterson 13 Away from the Heart of Darkness: Transparency and Regulating the Relationships Between Security Experts and Security Sectors, Piki Ish-Shalom
32 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors discussed the organization of MDA in Southeast Asia, with a focus on three major centres that are the backbone of the regional MDA structure, and they argued that each of the MDA centres has different strengths, and that their work should be seen as complimentary in an overarching system.
Abstract: Information Sharing and Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) are at the heart of the contemporary maritime security agenda. The goal of MDA is to develop shared understandings of developments and threats at sea. It is one of the preconditions for coordination and cooperation between diverse maritime security agencies and has often been understood as “key enabler”. MDA is a major technical challenge in terms of collecting and fusing data and developing expert systems for the detection of anomalies. It is also a social, political and legal challenge. This study focuses on the latter. It asks how MDA can be organized and how the socio-political challenges can be addressed. The organization of MDA in Southeast Asia is discussed in-depth, with a focus on three major centres that are the backbone of the regional MDA structure. Although far from perfect, this regional system has become a role model for organizing MDA in other parts of the world. This article explores the functions that the three centres perform in the governance of maritime security in the region. I argue that each of the MDA centres has different strengths, and that their work should be seen as complimentary in an overarching system. The strength of the overall system is in enabling trust and being flexible and adaptable to the changing situation at sea. The conclusion outlines what lessons the system holds for the organization of MDA in other regions with a focus on the Western Indian Ocean.
14 citations
Book Chapter•
01 Jan 2015
2 citations
14 Apr 2015
TL;DR: In this paper, Bueger analyzes the rise of informal governance by focusing on the issue of counter-piracy, and points to the relevance of this concept for the UN reform.
Abstract: This article is published as part of Fridays With MUNPlanet, and its special series dedicated to world politics. The aim of this series is to bring you the analysis of global affairs by the established and upcoming scholars, decision-makers and policy analysts from various world regions. This week,Christian Bueger (Cardiff University) analyzes the rise of informal governance by focusing on the issue of counter-piracy, and points to the relevance of this concept for the UN reform.
2 citations