Interrogating the concept and practice of collective security regimes in the 21st Century

Abstract

Although the end of the Cold War ushered in a period of enhanced security and development cooperation in the world, existing regimes for collective security have not been able to effectively prevent and respond to the contemporary security threats confronting the world today. Whilst the military security of states continue to constitute a significant consideration in the assurance of international security generally, the world is now confronted with non-military security threats that undermine military, social, economic and political security of states and their citizens. These new threats challenge the cooperation frameworks that have undergirded the collective security regime of the international community and expose states and regions to significant security risks. Using a literature review of existing works to profile the contemporary security challenges and documentary analysis of extant security frameworks, the paper interrogates the strengths and limitations of the current international collective security architecture and proffer options for enhancing its utility in addressing contemporary security challenges