International Political Sociology

Abstract

Critical security studies have become increasingly popular among Czechscholars, but most studies in this field are based on securitization theoryand other discursive approaches to security analysis. This paper argues forbroadening the scope of theoretical approaches to security studies andintroduces International Political Sociology as a promising strand ofresearch in this respect. International Political Sociology is based on thestudy of security as practice, and offers a more complex understanding ofhow security is constructed and performed. The article discusses thetheoretical roots of this approach, reviews the main strands ofcontemporary International Political Sociology research, and introduces itsanalytical tools. Finally, the paper critically reflects on the theoretical,methodological and empirical aspects of International Political Sociologyand outlines possible avenues for this research in the Central Europeancontext.