Collective security

Collective security is a multi-lateral security arrangement between states in which each state in the institution accepts that an attack on one state is the concern of all and merits a collective response to threats by all.^[1] Collective security was a key principle underpinning the League of Nations and the United Nations.^[1] Collective security is more ambitious than systems of alliance security or collective defense in that it seeks to encompass the totality of states within a region or indeed globally.

The premise of a collective security arrangement is that it serves as a deterrent to aggression by committing an international coalition against any aggressor.^[1] While collective security is an idea with a long history, its implementation in practice has proved problematic.^[2]

Collective security is also referred to by the phrase "an attack on one is an attack on all". However, usage of this phrase also frequently refers to Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, the collective security provision in NATO's charter.^[3]^[4]

^ ^a ^b ^c Thompson, Kenneth W. (1953). "Collective Security Reexamined". American Political Science Review. 47 (3): 753–772. doi:10.2307/1952903. ISSN 1537-5943. JSTOR 1952903. The rock bottom principle upon which collective security is founded provides that an attack on any one state will be regarded as an attack on all states. It finds its measure in the simple doctrine of one for all and all for one.
^ Macmillan., Palgrave (2015). Global politics. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 9781137349262. OCLC 979008143.
^ Decker, Jon (30 June 2022). "Biden at NATO Summit: 'An attack on one is an attack on all'". GrayDC. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
^ "Nato: Cyber-attack on one nation is attack on all". BBC News. 2019-08-27. Retrieved 2023-04-05.

[:0-1] Thompson, Kenneth W. (1953). "Collective Security Reexamined". American Political Science Review. 47 (3): 753–772. doi:10.2307/1952903. ISSN 1537-5943. JSTOR 1952903. The rock bottom principle upon which collective security is founded provides that an attack on any one state will be regarded as an attack on all states. It finds its measure in the simple doctrine of one for all and all for one.

[2] Macmillan., Palgrave (2015). Global politics. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 9781137349262. OCLC 979008143.

[3] Decker, Jon (30 June 2022). "Biden at NATO Summit: 'An attack on one is an attack on all'". GrayDC. Retrieved 2023-04-05.

[4] "Nato: Cyber-attack on one nation is attack on all". BBC News. 2019-08-27. Retrieved 2023-04-05.

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