Of the many challenges that society faces today, possibly none is more acute than the security of ordinary citizens when faced with a variety of natural or man-made disasters arising from climate and geological catastrophes, including the depletion of natural resources, environmental degradation, food shortages, terrorism, breaches of personal security and human security, or even the global economic crisis. States continue to be faced with a range of security issues arising from contested territorial spaces, military and maritime security and security threats relating to energy, infrastructure and the delivery of essential services. The theme of the book encompasses issues of human, political, military, socio-economic, environmental and energy security and raises two main questions. To what extent can international law address the types of natural and man-made security risks and challenges that threaten our livelihood, or very existence, in the twenty-first century? Where does international law fall short in meeting the problems that arise in different situations of insecurity and how should such shortcomings be addressed?

Part I: Conceptions of Security and International Law 1. Security Agendas and International Law: The Case of New TechnologiesNigel D White2. Human Security and International Law: The Potential Scope for Legal Development within the Analytical Framework of Security Hitoshi Nasu3. Human Security versus Environmental Security: At Legal Loggerheads John Pearson4. Regional Security and International LawJulia Schmidt5. International Criminal Justice and Security Olympia Bekou6. Security and International Law: The 'Responsibility to Protect' Alexandra BohmPart II: Security Threats and International Law 7. International Law and the Iranian Nuclear Crisis: Lessons for International Security and Arms Control Tom Coppen8. Contemporary Maritime Piracy as a Threat to International Peace and SecurityAlexandros XM Ntovas9. Terrorism: A Threat to Security? Lydia Davies-Bright10. Abusive Governments as a Threat Jure Vidmar11. Protecting Security Interests in International Investment Law Prabhash Ranjan12. Securing the Polar Regions Through International Law Jill Barrett13. Climate Change as a Threat to International Security Mattia Fosci14. Cyber-Threats and International LawNicholas Tsagourias and Russell Buchan