Brief Summary
Okay ji, so this video is all about understanding collective security in international relations. We'll understand what it means, its nature, features, and how effective it has been, especially looking at the League of Nations and the United Nations. The main idea is that an attack on one state is considered an attack on all, and everyone should come together to maintain peace.
- Collective security is a strategy to achieve peace and stability.
- It involves international organizations like the UN.
- The core principle is "one for all, and all for one."
Introduction to Collective Security
Basically, collective security ek strategy hai ya ek system hai jiske through international system mein peace aur stability maintain karne ki koshish karte hain. Iska matlab hai ki agar kisi ek state ke against war hota hai, toh woh sab states ke against mana jayega. This concept promotes cooperation and coordination among nations to avoid war and manage crises. For example, the Russia-Ukraine war is a crisis against international peace, and collective security aims to address such situations.
Meaning and Definition of Collective Security
Collective security ka basic principle hai "one for all and all for one." Agar India pe attack hota hai, toh yeh mana jayega ki yeh 193 countries ke against war hai, and they will pool their resources to take action against the aggressor. Several scholars have defined collective security. One scholar says it's a machinery for joint action to prevent attacks against the established international order. Another defines it as a mutual insurance plan against aggression anywhere. Mentioning these definitions in your answers can increase the value addition and fetch you good marks.
Nature of Collective Security
The nature of collective security has two important elements. The primary objective is security at the international level to maintain peace. Collective security is a method where an attack against one nation is considered an attack against all. The major principle is "one for all, all for one," where all nations stand together for each other's safety. They develop a system where if there is a war against one nation, other nations will collectively take action, pool resources, and make military contributions to help each other.
Features and Characteristics of Collective Security
One important feature is power management. If there is a power imbalance and one nation attacks another, other nations will support the attacked nation to mend the power imbalance. Aggression cannot be avoided, so a mechanism must be developed to address and deal with such situations. All nations commit to pool their power to end aggression by providing military contributions, weapons, and ships. Collective security accepts the presence of international organizations, unlike the balance of power concept. This system creates a deterrence because any nation knows that attacking another will result in a collective response.
Collective Security vs. Collective Defence
Collective security maintains peace within a system, while collective defence operates between systems. Collective security involves a single system, like the United Nations, where if one country attacks another, all member countries will act against the aggressor. Collective defence, on the other hand, involves alliances like NATO, where member countries commit to each other's security within their group.
League of Nations and United Nations
The League of Nations was formed after World War I in 1920. The United Nations Charter, signed in 1945, made collective security a major objective. Chapter Seven of the UN Charter discusses actions related to threats to peace and acts of aggression. Articles 39 to 51 talk about collective security to preserve international peace. The UN Security Council has the responsibility and power to initiate actions related to collective security, such as during the Korean crisis in 1950 and the Swiss crisis in 1956.
Criticism and Evaluation of Collective Security
Despite the existence of the United Nations, wars still happen, like the Russia-Ukraine war. The UN Security Council's inaction raises questions about the effectiveness of collective security. If "one for all and all for one" were truly in effect, all countries should have come to Ukraine's aid. The concept is idealistic, and countries often prioritize their own interests, ruling out neutrality during conflicts. Powerful states like America often dominate decisions.
Conclusion
Collective security faces challenges like a lack of political will and disagreements on sending military forces. Despite these challenges, it remains a key concept in international relations. You can enhance your answers by adding current examples and the views of scholars.
