The Role of the United Nations in Post-cold War International Peace and Security: a Critical Assessment of the Concept of Collective Security

Abstract

This study will provide an overview of the role of the United Nations collective security system in post cold war international peace and security. This entails critical assessment of the underlying concept of collective security, and evaluation of the challenges and achievements of the system. The research will use a conceptual framework of collective security paradigm in analysing the problem. The central idea in this concept is that the cooperation of the states is sustained on the notion of ‘one for all and all for one’-that an aggressor will be stopped by the superior force, that will come from the amalgamation of states powers. The study establishes that the creation of the universal collective security arrangement was not a panacea to the global security problem as expected. Rather the spirit of ‘one for all and all for one’ as professed by the proponents did not actualize, but instead states became more atomistic and egocentric in their approach to universal obligations. This situation rendered the United Nations collective security unable to effectively respond to international peace problems. The study obtained relevant data from primary and secondary sources to try and understand the problem. The data collection method applied was mainly desk study, library research; Internet based research, and participation in some relevant seminars. Data was also acquired from various primary sources through participation in various meetings of policy nature, and intergovernmental negotiation forums.