Emerging from the domain of international affairs and in response to an increasingly conflict‐ridden world order, the field of security studies examines the question of what it means to be secure within one's own boundaries. While the political and military conditions and consequences of terrorism, homeland safety, war and peace are important components in these studies, other challenges that threaten a state's stability may also include environmental disasters, energy shortages, gender and age discrimination, infectious disease, population movements and transnational crime.
In this evolving area of multidisciplinary research and study, the Praeger Security International Online (PSIO) database, produced by a respected publisher of scholarly and professional monographs in the social sciences and humanities, effectively integrates content from a variety of print and electronic sources into a single collection and browse/search interface. The extensive full‐text library is made up of more than 600 titles under the Praeger imprint, along with more than 1,000 primary source documents and short commissioned essays by experts and scholars in the field of contemporary security studies. Additional features include annotated subject bibliographies, a comprehensive terrorism chronology, and current topic‐related news.
From the main entry landing page, users are presented with several search and navigation options, including browsing of current relevant news from a number of sources and recently added commentaries. Also available is a basic keyword quick search across all content that can be limited to specific document types (books, encyclopedias, documents, commentaries, and bibliographies). Completing the page are a “What's new” column with an RSS feed, information about Praeger Security, its institutional partners and a grouping of white papers which focus primarily on electronics and security.
For researchers preferring more query control, the navigation bar offers an advanced search form that includes Boolean and document filtering tools. Also from the navigation bar, users can access a complete titles list and A‐Z name and subject index. Other sections of the site include designated space for commentaries, primary source documents, a topical resource list, a searchable version of the CIA Factbook and general system help. Value‐added features include the ability to explode index subjects into sub‐headings, print functionality and, for Praeger encyclopedia and monograph titles, a citation display for APA, The Chicago Manual of Style (RR 2011/01), and MLA. This citation feature is noticeably missing, however, from commentaries and primary source documents, which may be confusing, particularly for undergraduates. Also puzzling is the placement and source of the security and electronics white papers in the secondary navigation link from the main landing page. Finally, although the annotated subject bibliographies are well prepared and cover an impressive range of topics, most users will want an OpenURL link to the full‐text content or interlibrary loan request form.
Despite a few design and functional limitations, PSIO is an excellent resource for students and scholars in the field of security studies. Recommended for academic institutions with programmes that include security studies, political science and international affairs.
