The United Nations and Collective Security: Challenges and Lessons, 1945-2005

Abstract

Human history is replete with war within and between nations. As contact and relations increased among states across the globe, so did the violent conflict and the attendant chaos and misery. Most notable among these global conflicts, were the First and Second Worlds which led to the deaths of tens of millions. The devastation of these conflicts prompted attempts at peace through conflict prevention. One of these approaches to conflict prevention was collective security. In line with this approach, the United Nations was established in 1945 in the pursuit of global peace and order. The journey of the United Nations as a collective security arrangement requires further study. This paper adopts the historical descriptive method and utilises the Realist Theory for theoretical clarification. The findings highlighted that the Cold War and great powers’ rivalry encumbered the United Nations initial attempts at the preservation of global peace. It was not all gloom however, as some measure of success was recorded in places in like Korea (1953), Congo (1960) and Kuwait (1991) among others. Part of this positive is the successful use of peacekeeping as stabilization force across the world. The paper concludes that despite the challenges, the United Nations and collective security are a beacon of hope in a somewhat disorderly international system. An expanded security council, a clearly defined concept of aggressor nation, as well as a clear procedure on conception and termination of collective security actions will better equip the UN for the challenges ahead.