Oxford University
Press Inc. 2003

This Adelphi Paper is the first consise yet comprehensive analysis of the role of the G8 in the internationalpeace and security. It argues that the G7/8 has a long and imprehensive history in the field of international security. The G7/8 has, for example, spearheaded the introduction of ´low politics´and ´soft security´to the top table of great power diplomacy and intergrated Japan and, later Russia, into the realm of Western security discussions.