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collective security

The principle that all members of the collectivity of states are jointly responsible for the physical security of each of them. The principle emerged in the twentieth century because of dissatisfaction with the individualism of the nineteenth century, and with its associated principle of the balance of power (sense 3). Thus collective security found (imperfect) expression after the First World War in the Covenant of the League of Nations, and further (again imperfect) expression in 1945 in the UN Charter. Its implementation in the practice of both international organizations has also been far from perfect, as states are understandably reluctant to endanger their individual national interests by acting on the basis of such a broad and demanding principle as that of collective security. Nonetheless, the deference now paid to the principle indicates the far-reaching change in ideas about proper international behaviour that took place during the twentieth century.

The principle of collective security reflected the assumption that the chief threat to a state\'s physical integrity was an armed attack by a state or states bent on territorial gain. Perhaps in part due to the general theoretical rejection of that activity, this type of threat appears in practice to have substantially diminished, which may explain why the concept of collective security is now not often expressed in those words. However, much is heard about peace enforcement - which, broadly speaking, is its contemporary semantic equivalent.

See also aggression; Gulf War (sense 2); self-defence.

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Other Terms : Maastricht, Treaty of (1992) | troika (EU) | grand vizier

collective security

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