Example of academic essay

What is Asian security architecture?

 WILLIAM T. TOW and BRENDAN TAYLOR

o DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0260210509990520
o Published online by Cambridge University Press: 22 January 2010

‘Architecture’ has emerged as the new catchphrase in Asian security

politics. Despite its growing centrality, insufficient attention has thus
far been given to defining the term, often leading to its imprecise
usage. This article seeks to redress that shortcoming. It reviews the
ways in which various scholars and practitioners have employed the
term ‘security architecture’ and highlights the anomalies that their
often differing employment has created. The article proposes a set of
guidelines to aid conceptualisation and application of the term. In so
doing it establishes criteria to ascertain what ‘security architecture’
actually exists in the Asian region, and must ultimately exist to
assure regional security.
Architecture’ has emerged as the new catchphrase in Asian security politics.
Despite its growing centrality, insufficient attention has thus far been given to
defining the term, often leading to its imprecise usage. This article seeks to
redress that shortcoming. It reviews the ways in which various scholars and
practitioners have employed the term ‘security architecture’ and highlights the
anomalies that their often differing employment has created. The article
proposes a set of guidelines to aid conceptualisation and application of the term.
In so doing it establishes criteria to ascertain what ‘security architecture’
actually exists in the Asian region, and must ultimately exist to assure regional
security.William T. Tow is Professor in International Security in the Department
of International Relations, Australian National University. He is co-director of
ANU projects for the McArthur Foundation's Asia Security Initiative and for the
Centre of Excellence in Policing and Security. His most recent publication is the
edited collection Security Politics in the Asia-Pacific: A Regional-Global Nexus?
(Cambridge University Press, 2009).Brendan Taylor is Senior Lecturer in the
Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University. He is the
author of American Sanctions in the Asia-Pacific (Routledge, 2009) and is
presently completing a monograph addressing the great power use of sanctions
for the International Institute for Strategic Studies Adelphi series. He can be
contacted at {brendan.taylor@anu.edu.au }.