Fully revised to incorporate recent developments in world politics, the second edition of Understanding Global Security analyzes the variety of ways in which people's lives are threatened and/or secured in contemporary global politics. The traditional focus of Security Studies texts - war, deterrence and terrorism - are analyzed alongside non-military security issues such as famine, crime, disease, disasters, environmental degradation and human rights abuses to provide a comprehensive survey of how and why people are killed in the contemporary world. New to this edition: analysis of key international political events of recent years such as the War in Iraq, Hurricane Katrina and the Israeli incursion into Lebanon; recent developments in the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and the ‘war against terror’; new data on deaths attributable to global warming and the contribution played by this in ‘securitizing’ the issue on the agendas of skeptical states; examinations of ‘lifestyle illnesses’, largely spread by the diffusion of Western culture, like smoking or diabetes; greater analysis of recent diplomatic and institutional developments in the area of security: the Human Security Network and the UN Commission on Human Security. User friendly and easy to follow, this textbook is designed to make a complex subject accessible to all. Key features include ‘top ten’ tables highlighting the most destructive events or forms of death in that area throughout history; boxed descriptions elaborating key concepts in the field of security and International Relations; ‘biographical boxes’ of key individuals who have shaped world events; further reading and websites at the end of each chapter guiding you towards the most up-to-date information on various topics; and a glossary of political terminology. This highly acclaimed and popular academic text will continue to be essential reading for everyone interested in security.