Introduction: The Rationale and Constitution of this Symposium

This introductory essay outlines the overall aims of the symposium and provides a preview of each contribution. By pointing out specific tensions in the securitization field and unexplored areas of research, we aim to direct innovative and meaningful research for both securitization and wider areas of study. Shortcomings in the field that are outlined here include: unnecessary fault lines in securitization research that can possibly be overcome; the underexplored nature of the field; a failure to properly address the role of objects in research; the absence of substantial research on failed securitizations; and contradictions in research on the audience's role in securitization. To address these shortcomings, the symposium offers contributions from Thierry Balzacq, Mark Salter, Rita Floyd, Jan Ruzicka, and Timothy Potenz, with a concluding article by Potenz and Ned Lebow.