Regional Powers and Security Orders：A Theoretical Framework

Finding broad variation in security environments across the different regions of the world, Stewart-Ingersoll (international studies, American U. of Sharjah, UAE) and Frazier (international security and military studies, US Air Command and Staff College) argue for the existence of real functioning regional systems that are distinct from the global system and independent of one another. They consider these "Regional Security Complexes" (RSCs)--building upon the recent "new regionalism" literature--and their theoretical and empirical relevance to the study of international and regional security dynamics. They also analyze the functions of regional powers in developing and maintaining regional security orders, arguing that certain states disproportionately influence security within their RSCs due to both their relative capabilities and their unique behaviors with regards to regional leadership (eliciting cooperation or acceptance of shared regional objectives), regional custodianship (engaging in efforts to maintain and/or stabilize the current security order), and regional protection (from actors external to the RSC). Annotation Ac2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Robert Stewart-Ingersoll is Assistant Professor in the Department of International Studies at the American University of Sharjah, UAE, and has a PhD in Political Science.

Derrick Frazier is an Associate Professor in the Department of International Security and Military Studies at the US Air Command and Staff College, and has a PhD in Political Science.