Collective Security – The Role of International Organizations – Implications in International Security Order

The principle of Collective Security provides rationality for a range of international organisations – such as the UN, NATO, EU, and OSCE - which all attempt to uphold international peace and stability. What is the utility of collective security? How does it contribute to international peace and security? This paper reflects on these fundamental questions through an analysis of collective security principles at work in Euro-Atlantic space. It first raises and answers the question: what is Collective Security. Second, it examines the operationalisation of collective security, defence and cooperative security principles in historical and contemporary spheres. It focuses on the collective security principle at work in the League of Nations, UN, NATO, EU and OSCE. It asks of these examples – what are the perceived strengths and weaknesses of collective security when it is applied? Third, it concludes by arguing whether the existing collective security organizations in Europe and Euro-Atlantic region can serve as a universal mechanism for collective security or collective defence, cooperation and conflict prevention and analyse, the organising principles, logic and architecture of European security, the necessity for redefinition of the existing European security order. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n27p274