What is ‘Collective security’?

- Definition

Collective security is generally known as a system in which states attempts to prevent or stop
wars. Within a collective security arrangement, if an aggressor against any particular state is
considered an aggressor towards all other state, which works together in order to repel the
aggressor.

- Concept

In simple term, collective security systems ensure and guarantees the security from any
aggression or war which could be committed by any state against any other state. It is like an
insurance system where all nation is bounded to ensure the protection of any victim of any
war or aggression by neutralizing the said war or aggression.

- Characteristic
o Global

One of the defining characteristics is that collective security arrangement’s scope is usually
conceived to be globally, distinguishing them from regional alliance such as the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

o One for All and All for one

Another nature of collective security would be that how it stands for preserving security by
collective action. It’s fundamental two key elements where firstly are that security is the chief
goal of all the nations. National security is considered as a part of the international security
and any attacks attempted on the security of nation is taken as an attack on the security of all
the nations. Hence, all the nations are responsible to defend the security of the victim nation.
The second element is within the term ‘collective’ itself. As a part of a concept of collective
security, the term ‘collective’ refers to the method where security is to be defended in the
event of any aggression or war against the security of any nation. The collective power of all
the nations are to meet the power of the aggressor itself and all nation are required to create
an international team-up of power to negate the aggression or end a war. Therefore, ‘One for
All and All for One’ is basically the underlying principle of collective security where an
aggression or war against any nation is considered as a war against all other nation
 - How does it relates to the UN?

The term ‘collective security as previously been cited as the main principle of the United
Nations, and even the League of Nations before that. By taking and employing the collective
security system, the United Nations are working in hopes that it dissuades any member state
from acting in a fashion that would likely threaten peace, thus avoiding any conflicts. The
United Nations, however, seems to have learned from the mistakes that had been made by the
League.

Conclusion

- CSS not perfect but not totally useless

- Gave an idea for world peace preservation through crisis management
- Member are expected to act
- Ideals
o Agreeing on what constitute aggression
o More power UN Council
In conclusion, despite the collective security system is not perfect in its current state, it
cannot be denied that the system has not been totally. It has brought into vision the idea and
possibility of collective steps for the preservation of world peace through crisis management
in the event of a war. Collective Security constitutes a modern device of crisis management.
All the members of community of nations are expected to act and save the humankind from
the scourge of war and aggression and to use the collective security system for this purpose.
However, there are ideal conditions for collective security to be successful in its operation.
One of the conditions for collective security to operate successfully would be if there is an
agreement on the definition of what constitutes an aggression. By defining this term, not only
is it possible for member of the states to identify what constitute aggression, it also helps to
prevent member from neglecting to help defend victim state due to not agreeing what the
victim state is facing is aggression. Next, there must be a more powerful role entitled to the
United Nations Council and a strong commitment of its permanent members in favor of
collective security of international peace and security. The existence of an international peace
keeper force that is permanent in nature also helps the operation of collective security system
in a long term rather than that which is constantly changing.

Hence, it concludes that collective security remains a ideal and that even if it has achieved
a minor success, yet it is sill imperfect and needs numerous reformations before it can
achieve its true purpose