Research Objective:

Broadly speaking my research sits within the field of Security Studies. My principle research objective is to examine what 'security' does in policy and practical terms, particularly domestically (Homeland Security). This research agenda requires me to examine how security policy is developed and implemented along policy chains and with what impact on day-to-day life. My work then is focused on the interconnections between international and national security, recognising the evolving and indeed increasingly blurred nature of the relationship between the two.

KEY WORDS: CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION; TERRORISM AND POLITICAL VIOLENCE; NON-TRADITIONAL APPROACHES TO SECURITY; UK FOREIGN, DEFENCE AND SECURITY POLICY.

Current Research Interests:

It is this research objective that explains the current trajectory of my research. My principle interest is in Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP). I understand Critical Infrastructures to be those physical structures and cyber networks, alongside the associated spaces and activities relating to them, that are regarded as being of critical importance to the functionality of the state and vitality of wider society and thus in need of securing from a myriad of different threats. In the United Kingdom critical infrastructure is understood to encapsulate nine principal sectors: telecommunications, emergency services, energy, finance, food, government and public service, health, transport and water. My current focus is predominantly directed towards examining maritime infrastructure security (ports and harbours). Maritime infrastructure is particularly interesting because, alongside being part of the transport network, it also serves as part of the global supply chain and can often represent a territorial border.

My interest in Terrorism and Political Violence stems from a recognition of the wider context in which my research in to critical infrastructure protection began. Commencing after the terrorist attacks in the United States of America on 11 September 2001 and the subsequent pursuit of a 'war on terror', it has been international terrorism which has so often been utilised as justification for the implementation of a range of policy developments associated with CIP. With my principle research objective in mind my attention largely falls on counter-terrorism activities.

To assist in meeting my principal research objective, I draw upon a number of insights from non-traditional approaches to security. The label 'non-traditional' in this context refers, in very basic and broad terms, to those approaches which embrace the conceptualisation of security as socially constructed. Here the central assumption made is that our understanding of what it means to be secure, what issues are regarded as security issues, indeed what is regarded as the reality of security as a whole is constructed inter-subjectively through processes of negotiation and contestation. This conceptualisation has been embraced by a range of security scholars who would otherwise diverge in their views on security. More specifically I have utilised the work of the Copenhagen School, engaging with their securitisation theory and seeking to reorient research emphasis on to the 'post-securitised environment', charting what securitisations 'do' in practice and over a sustained period of time. Recently I have begun to engage in greater depth with the literature of those scholars associated with 'International Political Sociology' (often referred to as the Paris School). Whilst doing this I hope, tangentially, to gain a greater appreciation of the relationship between the work of the Copenhagen and Paris Schools, thus further developing my knowledge of security as a concept.

Finally the starting case study around which my research coalesces is the United Kingdom. Besides being a key player in the 'war on terror', the UK is the state in which I was born and still live. It is then the case with which I have greatest knowledge and where I witness the daily realities of 'security'. This focus means that I have a keen interest in UK foreign, defence and security policy.

Beyond all this, and outside of the office so to speak, I do my best to follow UK political developments. My main area of interest is political and constitutional reform, which, with debate over the future of Scotland's place in the UK, plans to reform the House of Lords, and discussions over the extent to which power should be devolved from central to local government all in full flow, is a fascinating area to follow.

I would be delighted to hear from anyone who has similar research interests - james dot malcolm at warwick dot ac dot uk.

I am currently involved in a range of research activities:

• I am researching and writing a series of articles for publication. As outlined on my homepage, there are three which are currently occupying my attention. The first charts the general public's growing role in counter-terrorism within the United Kingdom, utilising the maritime case study. Here the paper seeks to elaborate the specific nature of this role and highlights a series of questions worthy of further discussion relating to transparency and accountability. The second looks at the way in which information technology systems have been increasingly utilised to 'secure' UK maritime infrastructure and highlights some of the implications of this development. In doing this the paper begins to illustrate the spatial dimension to the securitisation of UK maritime infrastructure. Finally, I am working on a paper which focuses on UK counter-terrorism policy in relation to its small ports, both aviation and maritime. Once again illustrating the spatial dimension to securitisation, the paper seeks to shed further light on the framing of threat relating to small ports and what policies have been implemented in this area.
• Beyond writing papers I seek to present my research at a number of different venues in order to communicate my work, facilitate discussion and gain feedback on my research. At the current time I am scheduled to deliver a paper on the growing use of information technology systems at the British International Studies/International Studies Association conference in Edinburgh in June 2012.
• I have also co-convened a number of research events. In 2009, I helped to organised the 2nd Annual Graduate Conference in Security Studies at the University of Warwick which had the title - 'Security Beyond Borders?' Between 2009 and 2011 I also co-convened a set of collaborative conference panels between postgraduates in the British International Studies Association and the Japan Association of International Relations (JAIR). The first leg took place in Leicester in December 2009, with the second leg taking place in Japan in November 2011. The panels focused on the idea of a 'post-American world' and 'post-Western IR' respectively. It is my intention with my colleague Dr. Hiroaki Ataka to build upon these successful panels with the development of a journal special issue examining a number of the most salient issues that emerged from the discussions.
• Finally I am very keen to make a positive contribution to the discipline as a whole. I served for three and a half years as the nationally elected Postgraduate Representative within the British International Studies Association. In this role I was very proud to lead the development and launch of the first ever BISA Postgraduate Network, a formal mechanism to more effectively represent the postgraduate members of the association. I was the first Chair of the postgraduate network between April 2010 and April 2011 and currently serve as its President.