Omani author redefines concepts of national security

Observer

12-05-2025

LONDON: Recently published by Al Falaq Publishing and Distribution in the United Kingdom, a new book by Omani author Dr Abdulnasser bin Ahmed al Abri, titled 'Security and International Relations: A Strategic Vision', marks a qualitative addition to the Arabic library in the fields of security and international studies.
In his latest work, the author redefines the concept of national security within a comprehensive analytical framework that takes into account the rapid transformations in the global geopolitical and technological landscape.
The publication is issued amid a volatile international reality characterised by shifting power balances and the rise of non-traditional threats such as cybersecurity, cross-border terrorism, global pandemics, and climate change — making the re-examination of national security critically important for policymakers and strategic analysts.
The book offers a thorough treatment of national security concepts by integrating theoretical and practical dimensions, while also reviewing modern international relations theories and analysing a set of geopolitical crises shaping the contours of the new world order. It particularly focuses on the challenges faced by developing nations, especially in the Global South, amid the competition between major powers.
Across its chapters, the book explores several key themes, including the evolution of national security in the context of history and globalisation, the relationship between political geography and national security, the role of military strategic planning in safeguarding a state's supreme interests, the impact of technology and artificial intelligence (AI) on redefining power dynamics, and the balance between national sovereignty and the demands of international cooperation.
In the book's introduction, the author states: "National security is no longer confined to military defence; it now intersects with issues of economy, technology, health and the environment, necessitating a comprehensive revision of strategic analysis tools in an increasingly complex world." He added that the book is aimed at academics, researchers and students in political and strategic studies, as well as policymakers, with the goal of fostering an integrated understanding of international interactions and their impact on state stability and national security.
Dr Abdulnasser works at the Ministry of Defence and holds a position as a visiting professor at the College of Economics and Political Science at Sultan Qaboos University. He is also the author of a previous book titled 'Media and War in a Changing Security Environment', published in 2022 by Riad El Rayyes Books in Lebanon, which garnered significant attention in academic circles across the Arab world. - ONA