There are two types of security community: those that create a political community between themselves by institution building (such as the EU)

and those that are pluralistic and are aligned through shared values, responsiveness to each others needs and policy goals by their political elites (such as the UK and Ireland or the USA and Canada). Bellamy seeks to examine the impact of the development of such communities on members and non-members both theoretically and in practice though the analysis of several case studies.