Collective Security Agreements

A collective security agreement is an international treaty signed by a number of states guaranteeing the assistance of the members of the agreement should one state be attacked by a country within or outside the agreement.

Aim

The University of Colorado at Boulder explains that the aim of a collective security agreement is to encourage international cooperation. Under a collective security agreement, each member state agrees not only to assist the others in case of attack, but agree not to attack each other.

Examples

The United Nations and its predecessor The League of Nations are examples of collective security agreements. Other groups, such as NATO, operate under collective defense agreements where they only pledge to defend each other from outside attack, according to the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Problems

Collective security agreements are often seen as naïve because the majority of members will only act to defend another member's state if it is in its own best interests. Considerations such as expense and risk are often examined before action is taken. Collective security agreements also encourage military action and bypass peaceful solutions, such as diplomatic and economic sanctions.

References

• Encyclopedia Britannica: Collective Security
• University of Colorado at Boulder: Collective Security