Collective security

Collective security referred to in the law and political science, a system of security between several states ( Art. 24 II GG ) deployed inside effectiveness and in principle should not be directed against an external enemy. Usually refers thus a universal security system, such as the United Nations ( UN) or the League of Nations, which will allow the general and comprehensive disarmament under effective international control. To this end, States must in a longer process, which is defined in the UN Charter as a transitional period, to agree to territorial restrictions. The establishment of a universal system of collective security through the United Nations was due to the blocking by some states that collective security and binding international jurisprudence traditionally and historically - which is also intended as a part of such a comprehensive system - negative attitude towards not be realized.

In the narrower sense, the States concerned agree only on peaceful cooperation and define a list of violations, however, are punishable accordingly.

In the classical meaning of the term thus refers to a system with universal or regional scope that promises each of its Member States, protection against all interstate aggression. In collective security in this sense, it is a characterized by multilateral principles institution with equal rights and obligations for the Member States.

Collective security is based on the assumption that peace is indivisible and each member must come to the aid of each other; by diplomatic means, through economic sanctions and in extreme cases, by military means. A potential aggressor should thus be deterred by the prospect of a superior counter-power. The conventional view, the United Nations would not be a universal system of collective security, as has been dispensed with the veto power of the great powers from the outset to such a claim is, more accurately considered untenable. Collective security under the UN is connected to a renunciation of sovereignty or a transfer of sovereignty in favor of world organization, not without disarmament and an effective peacekeeping possible. The major powers should take this security guarantees for the period provided for in the UN Charter transitional period referred to in Article 106 of the Charter. Especially in this context is the principle of consensus, the flip side is the right of veto, of importance. In a very broad sense, however, collective security is now understood in the sense of joint action of States ( coalition of the willing ) in those cases in which are internationally recognized standards between states or within states violated.

Before the First World War, it was believed that one could increase the security of a state only at the expense of other states, because people believed that security could be only through military and political strength to achieve. The first attempt to give the military peacekeeping a rejection and to achieve global legal certainty through binding international arbitration, were the Hague Peace Conferences in 1899 and 1907. This attempt failed due mainly to Germany.

Since the First World War there are more and more attempts through international cooperation, to increase the security of all States in the region together. This happened about the League of Nations. An important system of regional, collective security were the Locarno Treaties. Japan also tried - albeit unsuccessfully - in the thirties allies for a " Far Eastern Locarno ", that is to win a security community in East Asia. Another important system came into being after 1934, when the Soviet Union joined the League of Nations with the aim of containing, together with France and England fascism. Because of mutual distrust, this goal was not achieved.

Even with the establishment of the EEC, the idea of collective security was an important impulse.

As a regional system of collective security for Europe is today the OSCE.

As a European development of this system, the concept of common security can be seen.

Works

• Maurice Bourquin: Collective Security, A record of the Seventh and Eighth International Studies Conference, International Institute, Paris, 1936.
• Knut Ipsen: case of alliance and defense. In: The Public Administration, Vol 1971, p 583-588.
• Sabine Jaberg: Collective Security: Myth or realistic option, Hamburg 1999? .
• Armin Kockel: The mutual assistance clause in the Treaty of Lisbon, in 2012.
• Nico Krisch: self-defense and collective security, Berlin, 2001.
• Klaus Schlichtmann: Linking Constitutional Laws of Peace and Collective Security. In: Indian Journal of Asian Affairs, Vol 17, No. 2 (December 2004).