This book investigates the fundamental question of how to determine when resources are wisely invested in security. It addresses this by examining what is worth securing and why, identifying threats, and exploring optimal protection strategies and the inherent trade-offs in resource allocation. The author proposes a framework built on a common-sense ontology and an explicit theory of value, distinguishing between objective and subjective threats, advocating for a non-anthropocentric view of security, and establishing a hierarchy of security referents including the ecosphere, the state, culture, and individuals.

The book aims to provide a foundational understanding of security, stripping down preconceptions to rebuild the concept from the ground up. Its analysis is structured around an explicit theory of value and a common-sense ontology, proposing distinct categories of threats and a unique hierarchy of security referents. The author's approach is intended to be of interest to both academic scholars of International Relations and practical policy practitioners.